Nature Photographers Network (NPN) and Nature Vision Magazine (NVM) exist to support meaningful, responsible engagement with the natural world through photography. When working in the field, our actions reflect not only on ourselves, but on the broader nature photography community.
This Code of Conduct outlines the principles we expect members and contributors to follow while photographing in natural environments. It is intentionally focused on ethics in the field and should be read alongside our Community Guidelines, which govern behavior on the platform.
These principles apply to all NPN members and to contributors whose work may appear on Nature Vision Magazine.
No image is worth harming a living subject, damaging an ecosystem, or degrading a place for others. The long-term health of the environment always takes precedence over a single moment or opportunity.
We enter natural spaces as visitors. Conduct yourself with humility, awareness, and restraint. Leave landscapes, habitats, and subjects undisturbed — or better than you found them.
NPN supports and encourages adherence to Leave No Trace and Nature First principles.
Ethical photography requires judgment, not shortcuts. When practices could be misunderstood or raise questions, transparency and disclosure are essential. Honesty builds trust within the community and beyond it.
Some landscapes can absorb frequent visitation. Others cannot.
Be mindful of fragile environments such as wildflower fields, biological soil crusts, wetlands, alpine terrain, and sensitive desert ecosystems.
Avoid contributing to overuse or degradation of delicate locations through careless behavior or indiscriminate sharing.
Think critically about how and when you share location information, especially for places that are easily damaged or difficult to manage.
Popularity is not a justification for harm.
Wild animals must always be allowed to remain wild.
Learn to recognize signs of stress and alter your behavior immediately if they appear.
Maintain appropriate distance and follow all local regulations.
Remember that animals are unpredictable and that you are responsible for your presence and actions.
Ethical wildlife photography prioritizes the subject’s well-being over proximity, novelty, or spectacle.
Nature photography should reflect respect for the integrity of the scene.
Do not alter, move, stage, or manipulate natural elements to create or improve a photograph.
Avoid practices that leave lasting marks, disturb habitats, or change how a place functions.
Strive to represent nature as it exists, not as you wish it to appear.
Photography is a response to the world — not a justification for reshaping it.
The natural world is shared.
Respect the experience of non-photographers and fellow photographers alike.
Do not interfere with others’ safety, access, or enjoyment in pursuit of an image.
Be patient, courteous, and aware of how your presence affects those around you.
The following practices are considered inconsistent with the principles of Nature Photographers Network and Nature Vision Magazine:
Harassing, stressing, or deliberately disturbing wildlife
Baiting wildlife or using live bait to create photographic opportunities
Manipulating habitats or scenes for visual effect
Damaging fragile environments or ignoring access restrictions
Misrepresenting how an image was made or withholding relevant disclosure
Images created through these practices may be removed from NPN platforms.
This Code of Conduct reflects our shared commitment to responsible, ethical nature photography. It is a living document, shaped by ongoing dialogue, evolving understanding, and collective care for the places and subjects that inspire us.
Our goal is not perfection — but thoughtfulness, restraint, and respect.
