| Creating A Collaborative Practice and a Community-Engaged Photography Project

Bring awareness to complex social issues and inform collective action through photography.

As photographers we have a remarkable opportunity to amplify the voices, stories and concerns of communities we work in. Photography has the power to inspire compassion, transformation and action.  Photographers can craft moving visual narratives that bring awareness to complex social issues and inform collective action. 

In this workshop attendees will have the opportunity to work with a local partner non-profit organization, or an organization of their choice to develop and photograph their story. The organizations will work with participants to identify the concerns of their community and give the photographer access to the individuals impacted. Through photojournalism or environmental portraiture workshop participants will create a body of work with their subject that documents and reflects their organizations’ issue.

Participants will learn how to conceptualize, plan, implement and produce photography projects in collaboration and consult with their subjects. Each person will have the opportunity to create a strong body of work to add to their portfolio.

Before the workshop each participant will have the opportunity to meet virtually with Kimberlee and discuss their work, goals and the partnerships available during the week.

Morning discussions will examine the ethics and challenges of representation and collaboration. We will explore the responsibility of the photographer in telling another’s story and work with the real life questions and concerns as they emerge throughout the week’s project. A large part of each day will be spent photographing your project. After working in the field each day students will meet with Kimberlee as a group to edit images, share and evaluate their experience working within their communities.

Daily lectures will explore the process from finding the story, developing a relationship with a  community partner, pitching the project and working collaboratively to authentically represent the individuals whose stories you are sharing. Final portfolios will be donated to the organization to further their goals and each photographer will be credited for use of the images. You will leave the workshop with a deeper understanding of how to create a photography project centering the concerns of and in consultation with the communities you work within and with a body of work you will be proud of.