The question I am asked most often when I talk about photographing the Amish is, “Isn’t it true that Amish do not want their pictures taken?” This is correct—they do not pose for photos because of the Bible verse, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.” (Exodus 20: 4-5).
But I find that in practice, there are nuances that prioritize respect and understanding. And, they still achieve my goal of informing others about the world we live in—which includes photographing the Amish, as you will see. Here are a few examples of how I make these judgements.
Understand Their Communities
First, many of my Amish photos, for example, this girl feeding a calf and picking flowers, portray Church Amish. Church Amish are a branch of the Amish that do not object to being photographed. (They also worship together in meetinghouses, rather than homes, hence their name. You can learn more about the Amish here). My collection of photos also includes Old Order Mennonites, who are sometimes mistaken for Amish. They have their own distinct practices and dress and do not object to being photographed.
Some of my photos portray Amish without showing their faces. But when I take a bit more license in service of my journalistic impulses, I take pictures from my car window parked along a road, or using my tripod alongside a field. In this case, I am photographing Amish people engaged in an activity, like farm work, and not posing. When they come to my side of the field, I greet them by waving and often receive a return greeting.
Once, however, in southern Lancaster County, a police officer harassed me for taking pictures of an Amish man working his field several hundred yards away. He was very protective of the farmer, and I didn’t try to assert my right to take photos from public property. Just remember to always follow the ethical guidelines of photojournalism, presented here by the National Press Photographers Association.
In my experience, youth who are not yet members of the church do not object to having their photos taken. On one occasion a buggy full of teens stopped on a country road and posed for me. On another, I was photographing a long road next to a Dawdy Haus (an add-on house for a son or grandparents) from atop my van. I waited for a buggy to come down the road. It happened to be full of young people who brought their horse nuzzling right up against my van. They asked jovially if that was close enough. No, I did not want them that close.
Take Opportunities Discreetly
Once I was at the edge of a schoolyard photographing children playing jump rope when the teacher, also a member of the Church Amish and an acquaintance of my father-in-law, asked if I would like to come into the classroom. I hid my glee and accepted.
Inside the classroom, she asked if I would tell the students what I do. A little startled, I said that I take pictures so that others can see how beautiful the world is, and that the photos I take often get printed in books for schools. The Amish students seemed satisfied. Before leaving, I stood at the back of the classroom, leaning against the doorframe to steady myself in the dimly-lighted room, and exposed a couple of frames that have been published many times in the U.S. and abroad.
One last incident is telling about individual Amish attitudes. My mother once sat beside an Amish woman at the annual quilt auction held in Harrisburg, PA, at the Farm Show building. She was holding and looking through my newly-published book, Amish Ways. The Amish woman, my mother told me, leaned over. She wanted to show my mother the photograph of one of her cousins in the book, not at all appearing upset by the photographs of her Amish kin. My aim is to inform others about the Amish lifestyle while being respectful of their wishes.
My books photographing the Amish can still be purchased online: Amish Ways (1991), Amish Country (1995), and Amish Values: Wisdom that Works (2001). Or you can choose from our gallery of Amish photos to feature in your home or business.