Does photographing wildlife (birds and animals) for documentation and display, or photographing family members for essential needs (such as ID cards and passports), fall under the religious prohibition of depicting animate beings?

Photographic imaging is a matter of dispute among contemporary scholars. What we lean towards is its permissibility, unless something arises that renders it forbidden. We advise against engaging in that which is not necessitated by dire necessity or pressing need, in order to avoid disagreement and to safeguard one's religion. Examples of what is necessitated by need include photographs for identity cards, passports, and similar official documents.