Our Ethics

Every photograph tells a story. We make sure it's told with respect.

What We Promise

All photography is created with appropriate consent, community respect, and human dignity at the center.

Every image on Scatto comes from photographers who understand that authentic storytelling requires ethical practices. We don't just curate beautiful photos, we curate responsible ones.

Our Standards

We work with photographers who commit to:

  • Obtaining proper consent and building genuine relationships, not extractive practices
  • Representing people with dignity and avoiding harmful stereotypes about any community, anywhere
  • Fairly compensating photographers and crediting their work appropriately

Community First

The communities in our photographs aren't just subjects, they're partners in storytelling. We maintain systems for:

  • Community feedback, concerns, and image removal requests
  • Ongoing photographer accountability and cultural sensitivity review
  • Treating communities as partners in storytelling, not just subjects

Beyond Stereotypes

We actively work against tired visual tropes that reduce complex communities to single narratives. No more exploitative imagery that strips people of their agency and dignity, whether they're in the banlieues of Paris or rural villages in Tanzania.

Instead, we capture the full spectrum of human experience: resilience, joy, leadership, innovation, and complexity. Impact work happens everywhere, and our imagery reflects that global reality without falling into geographic stereotypes.

Context Matters

We understand that ethical photography looks different in different contexts. A community meeting requires different consent than a public rally. Emergency documentation has different constraints than planned portraits.

Our approach is principled but practical, always prioritizing human dignity while recognizing the realities of documentary work.

Why This Matters

Impact organizations deserve imagery that reflects their values. Communities deserve representation that honors their stories. Photographers deserve to work within ethical frameworks that support meaningful storytelling.

When you use Scatto, you're not just getting better photos, you're supporting better practices.

Questions or Concerns?

We're committed to transparency and continuous improvement.

Reach us at: hello@scatto.photos