In the UK, it is legal for anybody to photograph anybody else in a public place (see this page). That being said, I understand and respect that not everybody wants to be photographed, particularly at a protest. Some photographers focus on 'staged' portraits at these events and can therefore easily ask permission first. I generally don't ask permission in this way because:
If you appear in a photo and would prefer that it wasn't published online, please get in touch and I'll be happy to remove it. Equally if you would like a copy of the photo(s), I'll be happy to provide those.
While photographing children in a public place is also permitted by law, I fully understand that parents may not want their young ones pictured. I will always ask parents' permission where possible. In some instances, such as capturing a fleeting moment from a distance or during a moving march, this isn't possible.
If you're a parent and would like me to remove a photo of your child(ren) from the web, please get in touch and I'll be more than happy to do so. Equally if you would like a copy of the photo(s), I'll be happy to provide those.
See the Avon & Somerset Police website for more on photography law.
In the course of documenting protest and activism, some of the activities that I photograph are unlawful or — in extreme cases — criminal. My involvement with all activities that I photograph is limited to exactly that: photographing the events. Like any journalist, my documenting an action should never be taken to imply my endorsement of, or participation in, that action.
My decision to photograph an event is always driven by an interest in the political, historical and/or social significance of the event. While the behaviour of those performing direct action may not always be "right", it is undeniably important in the context of both current news discourse and wider social history, and this alone is why I choose to document such events.
The vast majority of my photography work is done unpaid, as an independent documentarian. Very occasionally I will provide commissioned photography for the organisers of a protest or activist event, such as an organised union strike or charity-organised protest march.
Commissioning me to cover an event is only to give the organisers a) exclusivity on the images and b) expedited delivery. Payment never determines or influences the narrative of the images I take or any contextual reporting that goes with them.
If you would like to commission me to cover your event, please get in touch.