Would Vivian Maier Face Modern Judgment?

This is a query that has lingered in my mind for a considerable time. Would Vivian Maier face shame in today’s society for her body of work? Specifically, I am referring to the numerous photographs she captured of youngsters. For many years, it was looked down upon for photographers to engage in this practice, and generally, they avoided it. Discussions we had a decade ago led us to believe it fundamentally hinges on intent. Furthermore, we’re not referencing the manner in which Anna Neubauer photographs minors, which involves staged portrait sessions. Rather, this is more related to spontaneous street photography.

It’s important to note, I’ve been considering this article since March of 2024. Vivian Maier: Unseen Photographs has been showcased, and her book has received critiques. I’ve engaged in deep reflection about her artistry.

When you examine the children in her photographs, they do not appear to be uncomfortable with her presence and the camera. However, they are children and may not fully grasp the situation. The real concern stems from the potential of adults behaving as predators and targeting children. Nevertheless, credible evidence indicates that Vivian Maier was not one of these individuals. After all, she worked as a nanny and had genuine affection for the children she tended to. She never had a partner with whom she raised children of her own.

Aesthetically speaking, some of Vivian Maier’s photographs of youngsters are peculiar. I find it difficult to comprehend why someone would create them, but ultimately, these images were intended for her first and foremost.

If Vivian were alive today and her photographs were included in a group gallery exhibition, I am uncertain how many photographers would actually care about her work.

I conducted some research regarding nannies who are also photographers, and surprisingly, Vivian Maier seems to be the only name that emerged. Slate and West Side Rag featured an article about Ellen Jacob, who has documented nannies and the children they look after. However, it doesn’t appear that a significant number of nannies choose to photograph the youth they care for.

So, would Vivian Maier be subjected to shame today? I believe that if she took the appropriate and cautious measures, she wouldn’t have faced such stigma. For her, street photography ought to be recognized for its magnificence. After several gallery shows and publications, I think it would have been fitting for her to produce a book featuring her images of children. If Vivian presented it with the framing that she undertook this endeavor from a street photographer’s perspective, illustrating that photographing children is fundamentally about intent, I genuinely believe her work would have been embraced by a wider audience. In fact, she would have inspired other nannies to pick up their cameras and capture the world around them.

Photographing minors often carries a societal stigma. Nevertheless, I think that Maier would have needed to obtain the consent of parents to proceed. She would have had to share with parents the books she had created and ensure they were informed about the exhibitions in which she participated. Naturally, the parents would need to appreciate the arts or support the pursuit she was undertaking. That, of course, necessitates building relationships. And therein lies a potential pitfall for Vivian — she was quite reserved and private. Indeed, much of advancing your career and promoting your photography hinges on your ability to connect with people.

Just recently, I found myself in a gathering of photographers. Among the four of us, I was the sole extrovert, while the others required time to recharge. If engaging with people and expressing oneself is exhausting, this could pose a significant obstacle.

You may be questioning why this conversation is significant. I believe it is crucial to address how irrational the stigma around photographing children truly is. While seeking consent or refraining from taking pictures is a prudent practice to avoid trouble, children are, at their core, representations of our most genuine selves.

As long as we, as photographers, approach our work with good intentions and take extra steps to thoroughly inform those around us about our purpose, I believe we will find ourselves in a favorable position.