Mid-week Inspiration, Amish Pictures

Pictures have a way of inspiring me. I love them! Recently I was contacted by a Facebook friend, Don Burke. He and his wife had visited 3 Amish communities so far this summer (Mt. Hope, OH; Arthur, IL and Jamesport, MO). He knew I had an interest in Amish pictures, especially Amish schoolhouses and he sent me the link. You can see Don’s pictures here.

I posted that link on Facebook and we had an animated discussion about whether or not you can take pictures of the Amish. I loved Don’s response–

As a freelance photographer who has visited at least six different Amish communities and taken a lot of pictures, I have been asked by several people about whether it is offensive to the Amish to have their pictures taken. My experience is that there are actually different levels of acceptance in different places. Some of the Amish do not want to be photographed at all. Others have only asked that their faces not be photographed. I’ve also seen when an adult – and specifically, someone that had already joined the church – did not want to be photographed, but didn’t mind pictures taken of their not-yet-church-member children or teens. 

And then there are those like one Amish family that ran a bed and breakfast where my wife and I have stayed. When asked what was okay to take pictures of around their farm, this Amish lady replied, “It’s not like we will pose for you or anything, but you are more than welcome to take pictures of us as we go about our routine.” 

Overall it seems that many of the Amish in higher tourism areas are accepting the fact that pictures-taking is just part of the tourist mentality, and don’t mind it as long as they are not gawked at or don’t have a camera shoved right in their face. (To avoid these problems I prefer to take pictures using a good telephoto lens from an out-of-sight location.) The Amish in areas with less tourism may or may not share that same feeling. 

This bottom line is simple this: Remember that the Amish are people just like you and me, and we should give them the same courtesy and the same respect of their personal space that we would want. And when in doubt, ask for permission.

I’ve had exactly the same experience as Don. Some communities don’t mind and others do! After looking at Don’s pictures, I wanted to know if he was a professional photographer. Here’s what he had to say about that!

 I guess you’d say I am a free-lance photographer. In reality, I am a 27+ year self-taught photography enthusiast that has been fortunate (blessed) enough to have a church bulletin company that occasionally purchase some of my shots — usually some four-to-six pictures a year. Photography is my hobby, and my “real” job is being a pastor.

Our interest in the Amish has its roots in my wife’s long-time interest in Amish fiction, and her strong desire to visit the Amish in Lancaster Co. that developed from that. Our first visit (Holmes Co. and Lancaster Co. in 2010) was a vacation trip, and we both fell in love. Not with the touristy stuff — with the people, the culture and an interest in their religion. We’ve been privileged to stay with 2 different Amish families on 2 separate occasions — one of those families having a working farm (stirring connections with my own rural upbringing). We’ve been able to attend Amish church services on two occasions (PA), and that spoke to my ministerial side.

I certainly hope you will click over and view some of his photos. I find them to be – well – inspiring.

Blessings,

V