Behind the Scenes of a Nonprofit Photography Program

Q&A with Photographer Julie Jaeger

What happens when five passionate photographers from five different countries converge in South Africa with cameras in hand? You get two weeks of storytelling in motion across communities where grassroots nonprofits are doing the quiet work of change. For the first time, we based our humanitarian photography workshop in Stellenbosch, just beyond Cape Town, where our participants documented the work of NGOs in the surrounding communities, including initiatives focused on education, mental health, and animal welfare. Among them was Julie Jaeger, a Swiss photographer with a sharp eye for narrative and a passion for meaningful visual impact. Her images from the trip will feature this fall in a Zurich exhibition titled Make-Art-Not-War. Here’s a glimpse into Julie’s lens – and her experience.

What motivated you to embark on this humanitarian photography workshop?

“A couple of years ago I decided I wanted to focus my photography on supporting humanitarian causes. I was looking for further training specifically in this aspect of photography, so was thrilled to find the Humanitarian Photography Workshop. The program is quite unique. I did not find anything similar despite doing extensive research.”

How do you see the role of photography in the NGO world? Has this changed during your stay in South Africa?

“I see visual images as incredibly important to NGOs. Images help the audience better understand complex issues, see impact as well as need, and promote a feeling of common humanity.

My time in South Africa only reinforced my belief in the importance of visual images in not-for-profit work. We worked with some organizations that were doing amazing work but were lacking the images to communicate what they had accomplished and what the further needs were. It was very satisfying to be able to support these organizations by providing impactful images.”

Interesting in photography volunteering abroad yourself? Find out how to apply.

Can you describe any highlights from photographing the various nonprofits?

“As I love working with children, all the shoots with kids were a highlight for me. One especially memorable shoot was for an NGO supporting mental health through on-site programs in schools. We were asked to take photos at a school showing the work of this organization and their presence in the school, but without showing the faces of the students. I enjoyed the challenge of planning and researching for this photoshoot and then trying out different ideas such as using shadows, blurred photos, and various other ideas. At the school I was given a group of lovely kids to work with to execute my ideas. It was a fun and successful shoot.

Another highlight was the review and feedback sessions. Anna set aside many hours for feedback and review, and this was so important to learning and advancement for all the participants. Anna’s feedback was always spot on, and the feedback from the other participants was also very helpful. We could all see not only our progress during the two weeks, but that of the other participants.”

Similarly, what were challenges in documenting nonprofit projects?

“One of the main challenges during the photoshoots was having to work quickly and adapt to new and rapidly changing situations. New environments had to be quickly assessed, spontaneous requests from the client had to be accommodated, and, most importantly, one always had to be responsive to the people being photographed and to adapt plans as needed.”

Has this experience changed you as a photographer?

“Overall, the workshop was fantastic for me. I gained so much experience behind the camera in a range of situations, improved my ability to review and assess my photos, learned how to understand the specific needs of each NGO, and learned how to interact with my subjects in the most positive way. On top of that, I so much enjoyed getting to know Anna and the other participants.

Further, the workshop has given me the confidence and experience I needed to feel comfortable reaching out directly to NGOs about possible projects. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in humanitarian photography.”

You can find Julie’s website here.