---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's never a time that I'm not…"
description: "\"There's never a time that I'm not intrusive. That's the base of what we - photographers - do: we're intrusive. Anyone saying the opposite is silly. The..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/eugene-richards-38595_intrusive_there-s-never-a-time-that-i-m-not-intrus_3209221.png"
---

#  There's never a time that I'm not intrusive. That's the…

![“There's never a time that I'm not intrusive. That's the base of what we - photographers - do: we're intrusive. Anyone saying the opposite is silly. There's a process and a means of getting to know people and getting them to trust you, but I'm always very aware that I'm visiting - that I'm there…” quote by Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/eugene-richards-38595_intrusive_there-s-never-a-time-that-i-m-not-intrus_3209221.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/eugene-richards-38595_intrusive_there-s-never-a-time-that-i-m-not-intrus_3209221.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/eugene-richards-38595_intrusive_there-s-never-a-time-that-i-m-not-intrus_3209221.png)

> “There's never a time that I'm not intrusive. That's the base of what we - photographers - do: we're intrusive. Anyone saying the opposite is silly. There's a process and a means of getting to know people and getting them to trust you, but I'm always very aware that I'm visiting - that I'm there, that I have a responsibility, but I am intrusive.”

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Photographers must be present and sometimes intrusive to capture truth, while respecting subjects.

**In simple terms:** Photographers need to be present, even intrusive, to capture truth.

Key Takeaway

Balance intrusion with respect for subjects.

Themes

art ethics truth-seeking

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

artistic ethical

When to use this quote

- documentary projects
- street photography
- portrait sessions

Key Concepts

visual storytelling privacy trust

Questions to Reflect On

- When is intrusion justified?
- How can you earn trust quickly?

A Different Perspective

Intrusiveness can damage trust if mishandled.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Getting To Know People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-to-know-people/) [Intrusive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intrusive/) [Intrusive Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intrusive-saying-3959810/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photographers Intrusive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographers-intrusive-5989275/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Intrusive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-intrusive-5989276/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Intrusive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-intrusive-5989277/)

## Related quotes

> [Simply minding one's own business is more offensive than being intrusive. Without ever saying a word one can make a person feel less-than.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/simply-minding-one-s-own-business-is-more-offensive-than-being/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [It's a process of getting to know people. That's what photography is to me. It's about paying attention, not screwing up and blowing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/it-s-a-process-of-getting-to-know-people-that-s-what-photography-is/)

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

> [“Carla's description was typical of survivors of chronic childhood abuse. Almost always, they deny or minimize the abusive memories. They have to: it's too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-calof/carla-s-description-was-typical-of-survivors-of-chronic-childhood/)

[David L. Calof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-calof/)

> [I take it as a compliment when people want to click photos with us. But at times, it is pretty intrusive. People think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himani-shivpuri/i-take-it-as-a-compliment-when-people-want-to-click-photos-with-us/)

[Himani Shivpuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himani-shivpuri/)

> [“Intrusive, thoughtless people!" said K. as he turned back into the room. The supervisor may have agreed with him, at least K. thought that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/intrusive-thoughtless-people-said-k-as-he-turned-back-into-the-room/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [“He had an intrusive gaze and quietly confident manner, that seemed to strip away the layers of protective deception Scott would usually adopt around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-d-ronald/he-had-an-intrusive-gaze-and-quietly-confident-manner-that-seemed-to/)

[R.D. Ronald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-d-ronald/)

> [“Don’t you have dragons to fight so that you started saving girls who don’t need it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-panova/don-t-you-have-dragons-to-fight-so-that-you-started-saving-girls-who/)

[Simona Panova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-panova/)

> [I found, and find, the scrutiny of Dr. Lecter uncomfortable, intrusive, like the humming of your thoughts when they x-ray your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/i-found-and-find-the-scrutiny-of-dr-lecter-uncomfortable-intrusive/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [“I had learned that some people feel that books are "intrusive," in the sense that books put things in their heads that they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-reilly/i-had-learned-that-some-people-feel-that-books-are-intrusive-in-the/)

[Gary Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-reilly/)

> [I mind my own business. Too much of attention becomes intrusive at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashami-desai/i-mind-my-own-business-too-much-of-attention-becomes-intrusive-at/)

[Rashami Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashami-desai/)

> [Don't ask me why, but it always feels intrusive to look at other people's junk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-reid/don-t-ask-me-why-but-it-always-feels-intrusive-to-look-at-other/)

[Susanna Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-reid/)

> [Order is never observed; it is disorder that attracts attention because it is awkward and intrusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliphas-levi/order-is-never-observed-it-is-disorder-that-attracts-attention/)

[Eliphas Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliphas-levi/)

> [I don't really use Facebook, because I find it a bit intrusive on your personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/i-don-t-really-use-facebook-because-i-find-it-a-bit-intrusive-on-your/)

[Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/)

> [“Shamed and enraged, I sit by the side of the road and cry. Eclipsed by a sense of disgrace, my emotions feel momentarily stifled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-a-smith/shamed-and-enraged-i-sit-by-the-side-of-the-road-and-cry-eclipsed-by/)

[Holly A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-a-smith/)

> [“granddaughter told me she believed them to be intrusive and preferred to speak to people in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-k-hood/granddaughter-told-me-she-believed-them-to-be-intrusive-and-preferred/)

[D.K. Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-k-hood/)

## More by Eugene Richards

> [I chose to be a photographer twenty-two years ago, but I don't know that I'd make that choice again. Back in the early eighties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/i-chose-to-be-a-photographer-twenty-two-years-ago-but-i-don-t-know/)

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

> [Photojournalist? With a few exceptions, those of us working as photojournalists might now more appropriately call ourselves illustrators. For, unlike real reporters, whose job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/photojournalist-with-a-few-exceptions-those-of-us-working-as/)

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

> [I can photograph someone if I can touch them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/i-can-photograph-someone-if-i-can-touch-them/)

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

> [War all comes down to these little tiny stories about people's lives that will never be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/war-all-comes-down-to-these-little-tiny-stories-about-people-s-lives/)

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

> [My biggest problem is I'm so uninteresting that all these people forget I'm around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/my-biggest-problem-is-i-m-so-uninteresting-that-all-these-people/)

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

> [...it is pretentious for photographers to believe that their pictures alone change things. If they did, we wouldn't be besieged by war, by incidents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/it-is-pretentious-for-photographers-to-believe-that-their-pictures/)

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

> [Approaching people is not - it's ironic that it's what I do - but it's not necessarily what I enjoy doing. Later on, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/approaching-people-is-not-it-s-ironic-that-it-s-what-i-do-but-it-s/)

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

> [I'm often uncomfortable taking pictures, especially if people are grieving, or hurt, or hungry. At such times I have to remind myself that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/i-m-often-uncomfortable-taking-pictures-especially-if-people-are/)

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

> [That's one of the troubles of photography; the implication that what you have in that photograph is the way it is, and of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/that-s-one-of-the-troubles-of-photography-the-implication-that-what/)

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

> [It's a process of getting to know people. That's what photography is to me. It's about paying attention, not screwing up and blowing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/it-s-a-process-of-getting-to-know-people-that-s-what-photography-is/)

[Eugene Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

[Explore all 11 Eugene Richards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/)

## More Intrusive quotes

> [“granddaughter told me she believed them to be intrusive and preferred to speak to people in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-k-hood/granddaughter-told-me-she-believed-them-to-be-intrusive-and-preferred/)

[D.K. Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-k-hood/)

> [“Shamed and enraged, I sit by the side of the road and cry. Eclipsed by a sense of disgrace, my emotions feel momentarily stifled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-a-smith/shamed-and-enraged-i-sit-by-the-side-of-the-road-and-cry-eclipsed-by/)

[Holly A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-a-smith/)

> [I don't really use Facebook, because I find it a bit intrusive on your personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/i-don-t-really-use-facebook-because-i-find-it-a-bit-intrusive-on-your/)

[Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/)

> [Order is never observed; it is disorder that attracts attention because it is awkward and intrusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliphas-levi/order-is-never-observed-it-is-disorder-that-attracts-attention/)

[Eliphas Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliphas-levi/)

> [Don't ask me why, but it always feels intrusive to look at other people's junk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-reid/don-t-ask-me-why-but-it-always-feels-intrusive-to-look-at-other/)

[Susanna Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-reid/)

> [I mind my own business. Too much of attention becomes intrusive at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashami-desai/i-mind-my-own-business-too-much-of-attention-becomes-intrusive-at/)

[Rashami Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashami-desai/)

> [“I had learned that some people feel that books are "intrusive," in the sense that books put things in their heads that they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-reilly/i-had-learned-that-some-people-feel-that-books-are-intrusive-in-the/)

[Gary Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-reilly/)

> [I found, and find, the scrutiny of Dr. Lecter uncomfortable, intrusive, like the humming of your thoughts when they x-ray your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/i-found-and-find-the-scrutiny-of-dr-lecter-uncomfortable-intrusive/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [“Don’t you have dragons to fight so that you started saving girls who don’t need it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-panova/don-t-you-have-dragons-to-fight-so-that-you-started-saving-girls-who/)

[Simona Panova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-panova/)

> [“He had an intrusive gaze and quietly confident manner, that seemed to strip away the layers of protective deception Scott would usually adopt around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-d-ronald/he-had-an-intrusive-gaze-and-quietly-confident-manner-that-seemed-to/)

[R.D. Ronald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-d-ronald/)

> [“Intrusive, thoughtless people!" said K. as he turned back into the room. The supervisor may have agreed with him, at least K. thought that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/intrusive-thoughtless-people-said-k-as-he-turned-back-into-the-room/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [I take it as a compliment when people want to click photos with us. But at times, it is pretty intrusive. People think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himani-shivpuri/i-take-it-as-a-compliment-when-people-want-to-click-photos-with-us/)

[Himani Shivpuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himani-shivpuri/)

> [“Carla's description was typical of survivors of chronic childhood abuse. Almost always, they deny or minimize the abusive memories. They have to: it's too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-calof/carla-s-description-was-typical-of-survivors-of-chronic-childhood/)

[David L. Calof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-calof/)

> [“Treating Abuse Today 3(4) pp. 26-33 TAT: No. I don't know anymore than you know they're not. But, I'm talking about boundaries and privacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-calof/treating-abuse-today-3-4-pp-26-33-tat-no-i-don-t-know-anymore-than/)

[David L. Calof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-calof/)

> [My best trick to help stop intrusive thoughts is probably doing exercise and doing it regularly. I find that when I'm exercising, the intrusive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-dimoldenberg/my-best-trick-to-help-stop-intrusive-thoughts-is-probably-doing/)

[Amelia Dimoldenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-dimoldenberg/)

[Browse all 23 Intrusive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intrusive/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There's never a time that I'm not intrusive. That's the base of what we - photographers - do: we're intrusive. Anyone saying the opposite is silly. There's a process and a means of getting to know people and getting them to trust you, but I'm always very aware that I'm visiting - that I'm there, that I have a responsibility, but I am intrusive.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eugene Richards"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/there-s-never-a-time-that-i-m-not-intrusive-that-s-the-base-of-what/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Intrusive"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/there-s-never-a-time-that-i-m-not-intrusive-that-s-the-base-of-what/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/eugene-richards-38595_intrusive_there-s-never-a-time-that-i-m-not-intrus_3209221.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/eugene-richards-38595_intrusive_there-s-never-a-time-that-i-m-not-intrus_3209221.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/eugene-richards-38595_intrusive_there-s-never-a-time-that-i-m-not-intrus_3209221.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There's never a time that I'm not intrusive. That's the base of what we - photographers - do: we're…” — Eugene Richards",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Eugene Richards",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-richards/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There's never a time that I'm...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/there-s-never-a-time-that-i-m-not-intrusive-that-s-the-base-of-what/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-richards/there-s-never-a-time-that-i-m-not-intrusive-that-s-the-base-of-what/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```