The Essentials Season 3: “DO NO HARM: ETHICS” WITH CHERISS MAY

In this session, prominent photographer and adjunct professor at Howard University Cheriss May explores one of the most—if not the most—important aspects of making honest and compelling work: ethics. She’ll teach about the many layers of consent, avoiding stereotypical or sensationalistic approaches, establishing trust with people you photograph, and how to control the use of your images and how to have those conversations with editors. Cheriss will also showcase examples of social impact through photography and walking the line between activism and photojournalism.

Cheriss May is a lauded portrait photographer and adjunct professor at her alma mater, Howard University. Her passion radiates through her aptitude to connect to the soul of those she photographs. Cheriss’s work centers on the intersectionality of race, culture, and politics—from the White House to Capitol Hill, and everyday life in communities across the country. She is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and has been published in O Magazine, The White House website, People, ABC News, The Today Show, among other publications. Her work is featured in the permanent collection of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, PA, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, NY. Originally from Kansas City, MO, Cheriss is based in Washington, D.C., and is a member of Black Women Photographers. Follow Cheriss on Instagram at @cherissmay.