Shoot green

We look at the small changes you can make to become a more eco-friendly photographer

Pictured Shot at sustainability It’s not easy to run a profitable business and be climate-conscious. But with a few simple changes, you should be able to meet both objectives harmoniously

The conversation about climate change comes and goes, led by media coverage of high-profile events but neglecting some of the key environmental issues we face today. As photographers, we probably don’t think of our business practices as especially damaging to the environment. When working from a home studio or fixed location, it can feel as though we are operating in a bubble that doesn’t connect much with nature. However, there are issues other than global warming and worldwide climate impacts to consider.

On a local level, our day-to-day activities can have significant effects on the environment. From the production of waste materials to damaging behaviour when out shooting in the landscape, we all leave a footprint of which it can sometimes be hard to keep track.

Many of the negative impacts we introduce are entirely unintentional and often overlooked. For this reason, it is useful to review our workflow to identify weak points in the sustainability of the operation. It is surprising how much we throw away and where the areas for improvement are. The upside is that we may even save some money in the process.

Power consumption