Capturing Memories While Preserving Nature: Understanding Leave No Trace for Family Photography
As a family photographer, I have a unique opportunity to blend the beauty of nature with the precious moments of family togetherness. The great outdoors offers stunning backdrops that enhance the timeless quality of your photos, creating memories that families will cherish for years. However, with this privilege comes the responsibility to protect and preserve these natural environments. This is where the principles of Leave No Trace (LNT) come into play.
What is Leave No Trace?
Leave No Trace is a set of seven principles designed to help outdoor enthusiasts minimize their impact on nature. Originating from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, these guidelines are crucial for anyone who spends time in the wilderness, ensuring that natural spaces remain pristine and accessible for future generations. You can apply these principles when you go hiking, camping, having a picnic, or taking photos.
The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
Research your location and understand the regulations and conditions. Check weather forecasts to avoid adverse conditions. Prepare for emergencies and carry the appropriate gear, such as trash bags and biodegradable products. (I help my clients know the rules for different locations and always check the weather before a session).
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Stick to established trails and designated areas. Avoid trampling vegetation or disturbing wildlife habitats.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
Carry out all trash, leftover food, and litter. Use bathrooms or pack out human waste if no facilities are available. Do not bring unnecessary waste or items that cannot be picked up easily.
4. Leave What You Find
Preserve the past: do not touch cultural or historical structures and artifacts. Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them. This also means do not carve on or graffiti these structures.
5. Minimize Campfire Impact
Use a camp stove for cooking instead of a fire while camping. If fires are allowed, use established fire rings and keep them small. Ensure they are fully extinguished before leaving. Avoid using items that can spark a fire.
6. Respect Wildlife
Observe animals from a distance and do not feed them. Store food securely to prevent wildlife from accessing it.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. Yield to other users on the trail and keep noise levels down.
Applying Leave No Trace to Family Photography
When planning a family photo session in nature, incorporating Leave No Trace principles can make a significant difference. Here’s how photographers can integrate these guidelines into their photography practice and for families to follow guidelines during their photo session:
1. Scout Locations Responsibly
Photographers can choose locations that can handle foot traffic without suffering damage. This means finding locations with lots of trails and walking paths for their clients to use during a session. Avoid sensitive areas, especially during peak seasons or vulnerable periods for wildlife. When you find a natural area, be careful how you share the location with others online to avoid creating a high number of visitors.
2. Educate Your Clients
Brief your clients on the importance of Leave No Trace. Encourage clients to follow the principles during the session, such as staying on trails and not picking flowers. I provide a Locations Guide to my clients and include these principles in the guide. I also tell clients what items I do not allow at sessions (such as confetti).
3. Minimal Equipment Footprint
Bring only the necessary equipment to reduce the physical impact on the environment. Use lightweight and portable gear to avoid damaging the terrain. For instance, I don’t use a wagon to carry any supplies. I use blankets but no other props like couches, large backdrops, or other items that could flatten grass/flowers.
4. Leave No Trace in Posing and Props
Use natural features without altering them. For example, avoid moving rocks or breaking branches for a perfect shot. Bring props that are biodegradable or easily removable without leaving residue. I do not allow confetti (there are very few products that are actually biodegradable as they claim), smoke canisters, streamers, sparklers, or balloons.
5. Respect Wildlife
Schedule sessions at times that are less likely to disturb local wildlife. Keep a safe distance from animals and never bait them to come closer for a photo.
6. Pack Out All Waste
Ensure that all trash, including small items like wrappers or bottle caps, is collected and packed out. Bring a small bag specifically for any trash or waste generated during the session. Most of my sessions do not include waste but on occasion, a baby needs a diaper change, or a family enjoys a snack, or we do a cake smash. In these situations, we pack up whatever trash we create and find a dumpster at the parking lot or bring it home to throw away. For cake smashes, I put a mat down to keep food contained so we do not accidently feed wildlife.
Below is an example of a family photo session where we adhered to these principles to preserve the wildflowers growing at this park. We stayed on the designated trails and paths. I found ways to place the family or myself to make it look like they were standing further in the field for some photos while staying on permitted surfaces.
Creating Lasting Memories
By adhering to Leave No Trace principles, you not only capture beautiful images but also contribute to the preservation of the natural environments that make your photos so special. Educating others and leading by example shows that you value both their memories and the planet. Together, we can ensure that these stunning outdoor locations remain beautiful and accessible for future generations to enjoy.
If you want to earn your own Leave No Trace badge as a photographer, you can take a course online!
