Grad photos for your department...

[reinhard]

So I don't know if i am the only one who doesn't like the idea of my face being posted on the internet so everyone can look at me. In my department, on the 5th of September, there is a general meeting for grad students and the department wants to take a photograph of everyone so they can post it on the department's website.

 

I am against it and I was thinking of skipping the grad orientation or be late for the photograph.

 

I really don't like "being displayed like an animal in a zoo" (quote). I've seen in other universities some grad photos are left blank, so I am guessing I am not the first?

[GeoDUDE!]

I think you are making a big deal of this.... why not email the grad coordinator and say you are uncomfortable and don't want a picture ? Why are you making this out to be such a big deal?

[bsharpe269]

My research group likes to get group pictures... this really isn't a big deal. I would never skip an orientation over something small like this. If you don't want to be in the picture then when they go to take it at the orientation, say that you are uncomfortable and would rather stay out of it.

[TakeruK]

I think it's helpful to have your picture and identity well known in academia because you want people to find you and your work! But there are also very good reasons to not want your photo online, and I think everyone will understand if you ask them not to take your picture or post your photo online. There's no need to skip orientation entirely, just don't be part of the group picture, don't line up for the individual pictures and inform the department that you would not like to have your picture online. People should understand, but if they try to convince you otherwise, it might help to firmly repeat that you do not want this (don't give reasons for them to argue against). 

[rising_star]

A few thoughts.

1) A picture is not worth missing orientation over. Or being late for orientation or skipping out early. Any of those things will make you look worse in the eyes of your new progam than just saying you'd prefer if there weren't a picture of you online.

2) It'll look weird when there are pictures of everyone but you on the department website. Moreover, people use those. I have, on multiple occasions, looked up someone I met at a conference through their department listing and, at least a few times, the picture has helped. These were all individual photos though.

3) I think you need to come up with a clear explanation for why you don't want your picture on the department website. Why does it matter if you're in a group photo? How many other photos of you are there online (keep in mind that there are probably some you don't and never will know about)? Just make sure you have a short, simple answer to provide to explain why you don't want to particpate in the group photo and I think you'll be fine.

[RBWilliams]

We had our Orientation today.  While we didn't take group pictures, there was a consent form in the information packet they gave us giving them authorization to do so with pictures.  You will probably get one to for your school and just opt not to give that approval.  However, that would be a great time to tell them how you feel.  Mind you it would be a shame to miss out being included with your group over something so POSITIVE.  Yet, if you feel strongly about it, it is your responsibility to let them know that.  How professional is it to skip out on Orientation for something solved just by letting them know up front.  If you can't tell them something as basic as this, what will you do when you have a "Major Issue".

[reinhard]

We had our Orientation today.  While we didn't take group pictures, there was a consent form in the information packet they gave us giving them authorization to do so with pictures.  You will probably get one to for your school and just opt not to give that approval.  However, that would be a great time to tell them how you feel.  Mind you it would be a shame to miss out being included with your group over something so POSITIVE.  Yet, if you feel strongly about it, it is your responsibility to let them know that.  How professional is it to skip out on Orientation for something solved just by letting them know up front.  If you can't tell them something as basic as this, what will you do when you have a "Major Issue".

These are individual pictures not group pictures.

[Sigaba]

So I don't know if i am the only one who doesn't like the idea of my face being posted on the internet so everyone can look at me. 

 

I really don't like "being displayed like an animal in a zoo" (quote). I've seen in other universities some grad photos are left blank, so I am guessing I am not the first?

 

In the event you have a discussion about your desire to not be photographed and you follow the guidance outlined by TakeruK or rising_star, I strongly suggest you avoid saying anything along the lines of the two sentences above.

[geographyrocks]

I was on display like an animal at the zoo once...it was nothing like having my picture taken! Lol

If you plan on being any good at what you do, I'm sure your picture will be requested. If you become a professor, your picture will be requested. When you die, your picture will definitely be requested. I'd advise you to really think about why your photo being on display bothers you. The worst anyone can say is holy crap, that person is smart enough to go to grad school!

But if you are really set on this, do what others have suggested. Do not miss orientation just because of a photo!

[reinhard]

Well in my department there are still some "absent" pictures...I just gotta find out how they were able to pull this off.

[RBWilliams]

Even still, you missed the whole point.  Just TELL THEM your desire not to have photo taken (mind you not whole on "display like zoo animal" comment).  Why do you have to figure out how they "Pulled it off"?  Really!  

[TakeruK]

One reason for someone to not have their picture online could be that the person does not want certain people stalking them / trying to track them down. Although most people like hearing reasons for "different" actions, I think that a student ought to be able to decline getting their picture taken without having to feel like they need to justify it. After all, it's the student's prerogative!

 

I would strongly suggest just being direct and saying firmly that you would not like to have your picture taken for the school. I know at my departments, current and past, you can even choose to have your name removed from the online listing altogether. Again, there are lots of good reasons to have this information available, and also bad reasons in some circumstances, but it should be the student's choice. 

[juilletmercredi]

^I get why some people would not like to have their picture taken and put online - safety issues.  That doesn't seem to be the OP's motivation, though; s/he just said that they feel like they'd be stared at like an animal in the zoo, which is quite frankly ridiculous.

 

I understand this in the context of social networks (I personally do not like having my picture up on Facebook, although it's all but unavoidable at this point), but not for professional stuff.  It's very very common for grad student pictures to be featured on the website, and if you go into academia, it's almost universal for faculty members to have their pictures featured on the departmental website.  People like being able to associate a name to a face - especially if they want to look for you at conferences or something.  It's not really being displayed like "an animal in a zoo"; it's satisfying the perfectly human drive to want to associate a name with a face.

 

But if you are completely against it, don't just skip orientation - go and then explain that you are uncomfortable being photographed.  There's no figuring it out involved - be direct, like an adult, and explain the situation.

[wildviolet]

^ I agree. While graduate students do not have individual pictures up on the college website, they are up on the wall in the department lobby! And the department keeps these photos in an archive so that when we win awards or do something newsworthy (even after we graduate), they can use the archived photo in a news story. Having your picture up on the web is unavoidable in academia--my main concern is making sure that it's a good and up-to-date picture!