Photos submitted to Watch Duty can help our reporting team understand what's happening during an incident and provide additional visual context to the community.
All submitted photos are reviewed by our reporting team, but not every submission will be published.
How do I submit a photo?
Photos must be taken using the camera within the Watch Duty app and not uploaded from your phone's photo library. We require photos to be taken directly in Watch Duty to ensure photos hasn’t been tampered with and to verify the location and direction of the photo.
To submit a photo:
- Open the Watch Duty app on an iPhone or Android device.
- Tap the Camera icon in the upper-right corner.
- Take a new photo.
- Add a short description of what you're seeing and the location.
- Tap Submit.
Photo submissions are available through the Watch Duty mobile apps only.
Only take and submit photos when you can do so safely. Never put yourself in danger or interfere with firefighters or other first responders to take a photo.
What happens after I submit a photo?
Submitted photos are reviewed by Watch Duty's reporting team before being published.
Whether a photo is published depends on the incident and the information the photo provides. Our reporters generally prioritize photos that help illustrate what we're reporting or provide a useful perspective on current conditions.
A photo may not be published if:
- It contains people, vehicles, or structures
- The incident is small or routine and a photo wouldn't add meaningful context
- A similar photo has already been published
- It hasn't been reviewed yet
- Our reporting team determines that it isn't appropriate or useful for the incident
Because submissions are reviewed individually, submitting a photo doesn't guarantee that it will appear in Watch Duty.
How long do submitted photos stay visible?
Published photos can remain available for up to 6 hours after approval.
Can I remove a photo after submitting it?
Once you submit a photo, you can't remove it yourself from Watch Duty. It will automatically disappear from view 6 hours after it was submitted.
How are submitted photos credited?
Photos submitted by Watch Duty users are credited as Watch Duty User.
Photos taken by members of the Watch Duty organization may be credited differently.