How to Build Trust in Difficult Places

Every National Geographic photographer needs more than sharp eyes. They need the ability to truly see with an original perspective and a distinctive voice. Over three decades ago, the Director of Photography at National Geographic recognised Tomasz Tomaszewski’s capacity to work where cameras are often unwelcome and people may not appreciate or even permit being photographed. This talk distils how he earns permission, builds genuine rapport, and photographs with dignity in communities that are cautious of outsiders. It is a practical exploration of patience, presence, and responsibility, turning access into honest storytelling without exploiting vulnerability.

What you will take away:
• Field tested methods to establish rapport and informed consent in sensitive situations
• How to read a room, de escalate tension, and move from no to maybe to yes
• Approaches to ethics, transparency, and long term relationship building that protect subjects and stories

Who this is for:
• Photojournalists, documentary photographers, and editors working in sensitive environments
• Students and educators seeking practical frameworks for ethical visual reporting
• Anyone who needs to build trust with communities to tell authentic human stories