How to become a sustainable photographer

Sustainability has become a defining trend of this decade. Everyone is familiar with the term, but few truly understand its complexity. In its more recent usage, it refers to acting responsibly toward both the environment and society.

Sustainability in photography 

That sounds good in theory, but how can we as photographers work more sustainably? After all, photography remains one of the most widely used media worldwide. In this article, I provide insight into practical approaches to more sustainable photography.

Road to authenticity

The first key aspect to consider is authenticity. In my opinion, sustainability is not a trend you just pick up and abuse for your own purposes (keyword: greenwashing). It must be a genuine way of life. For example, if you frequently fly for work or drive an SUV to shoots, clients are unlikely to see you as truly committed to sustainability. 

Beyond mindset, three key factors contribute to greater sustainability: working methods, client choices and visual language.

Mode of operation

For self-employed photographers, sustainability plays a crucial role. It begins with essentials like insurance, banking, tax registration, accounting, and camera equipment. Next comes communication and marketing, which influence whether clients visit your studio or you travel to them. Finally, edit the pictures and hand them over to the client (usually digitally) with the invoice and rights of use.

I’ve already highlighted key areas where sustainability can be improved. These are areas every aspiring sustainable photographer should focus on.

• There are insurance companies and green banking that only invest in ethical projects.

• Go paperless by managing your bookkeeping digitally.

• You don't need a new camera every year. If you need a new camera, lens, light or anything else, buy certified second-hand goods to avoid excess emissions and the problematic production of precious metals. The same goes for your laptop, computer and any other technology.

• The internet has a greater environmental impact than many realise. Optimise your website by keeping it minimal, using highly compressed images and choosing sustainable web hosting.

• If you do email marketing, use privacy-compliant green servers and don't embed image files directly. This way, image data is only accessed when it is clicked on.

• Switch to renewable energy for your studio and home office. This means your electricity company invests its profits in the development of renewable energies.

How you travel to clients significantly impacts your sustainability footprint. Always choose the most environmentally friendly option possible. In order, the best options are: bicycle, cargo bike, tram, bus, train, natural gas car, electric car and rental car. Conversely, large vehicles (especially petrol and diesel) and international flights are among the least sustainable options.

The future  

With a few measures, photographers can significantly reduce their footprint and even become climate-neutral. One thing is clear: camera technology itself is not sustainable, despite some brands promoting a 'Road to Zero'. The extraction of precious metals, complex supply chains, and questionable labor conditions make sustainable production challenging. Photo technology can become much more sustainable if you buy second-hand. For example, buying second-hand camera gear can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 70% compared to purchasing new equipment. In my experience, well-inspected second-hand camera gear performs exceptionally well.

Thanks, Simon. You can see more of Simon’s work on Instagram @simonveith_

Read more inspiring articles on sustainability on the MPB content hub.