Why I AVOIDS Taking Group Pictures - Imoh Umoren

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Filmmaker Imoh Umoren has revealed an unusual reason he prefers to stay away from group photographs, saying he is particularly cautious about the people he appears with in pictures.

Umoren’s position goes beyond simply not enjoying group photographs. For him, being captured alongside several people can come with its own risks, especially when he does not know much about everyone in the picture.

The filmmaker explained that he is mindful of the possibility of being photographed with someone who may already be wanted by law enforcement. What looks like an ordinary photograph, he suggested, could later raise questions about the relationship between the people appearing in it.

“I don't take group pictures especially in Lagos, because alot of people are wanted by the police”.  

His comment offers an interesting look at how something as routine as taking a photograph can be viewed differently by someone who is conscious of the people around him. Group pictures are often taken casually at events, gatherings, film locations and social occasions, with little thought given to who appears in the frame.

But Umoren appears to take a more cautious approach.

For someone in the entertainment industry, photographs can also become a record of who was present at a particular place or event. A person may simply be standing among friends, colleagues or acquaintances, without knowing everything about their background. That is seemingly why Umoren would rather avoid putting himself in that position.

His statement also highlights the importance some public figures place on being deliberate about their associations. In an industry where people are regularly photographed together, a picture can easily create an impression of closeness or connection, even when the people involved may only have met briefly.

Umoren did not suggest that everyone in a group photograph is involved in wrongdoing. His point was about being cautious and avoiding unnecessary exposure when he cannot be certain about everyone around him.

The filmmaker’s comment is also a reminder that public personalities often have to think differently about situations that many people would normally consider harmless. While taking a group photograph may seem like a simple way to preserve a moment, Umoren believes it can sometimes come with consequences that are not immediately obvious.

For him, the safest option is straightforward: if he does not know who everyone is or what their circumstances might be, he would rather not be in the picture.

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