We’ve all seen it, especially as October rolls around. A “Day of the Dead” group shoot organized by people with zero ties to Hispanic culture. A model wearing a sacred Bindi paired with “Viking” furs and synthetic dreads. A creator using Google Translate to write captions in Spanish to chase a “Latina Goth” aesthetic that isn’t their own.
In the photography world, we often call this “creative exploration.” But let’s call it what it actually is: clout-chasing through cultural theft.
Your “Vision” Isn’t More Important Than Their Reality
Cultural appropriation happens when you take elements from a culture, especially one that has been historically marginalized and use them for creative or financial gain without permission, credit, or understanding.
When you use a community’s belief system or sacred regalia as a “vibe” for a seasonal shoot, you aren’t being edgy. You are being colonizing. You are stripping away centuries of meaning and reducing a living identity into a background for your portfolio.
The “Aesthetic” Trap
I’ve watched local photographers treat cultures like a wardrobe. One day it’s a Bindi used as a fashion accessory; the next, it’s a “Gomez and Morticia” shoot where a non-Hispanic creator uses a language they don’t speak to sell a persona they don’t live.
Sacred items are not costumes. If you are picking and choosing “cool” parts of a culture while ignoring the people and the history behind them, you aren’t an artist; you’re a tourist with a camera.
Research vs. Robbery
There is a way to honor history without stealing it. When I shot my Norse Viking series, it wasn’t a “costume party.” It was backed by:
- Deep Research: Ensuring everything was true to the era.
- Historical Context: Pairing the work with facts in a publication.
- Personal Connection: Honoring my own genetic lineage.
If you can’t prove a connection, and you haven’t done the work to respect the source, you shouldn’t be pressing the shutter.
Stop Using People as Props
Before you plan your next “themed” shoot, ask yourself:
- Am I invited by those who practice or live this?
- Am I profiting off someone else’s identity?
- Who does this photo serve? If the answer is “just my Instagram feed,” put the camera down. Photography should be about connection and truth, not the commodification of cultures you don’t belong to.
The Final Word: Connection, Not Clout
Let’s be blunt: using someone’s heritage as a costume isn’t “cute.” It shouldn’t be done for clout, and it shouldn’t be done for likes. If you haven’t lived the experience, if you haven’t walked the path of those who have been historically oppressed, and if you haven’t done the genuine work to understand their struggle, then your “aesthetic” is offensive. Period. Photography has the power to bridge worlds, but it also has the power to exploit them. Choose to be a creator who respects the human story behind the image, rather than someone who loots it for a viral moment.
