Humanitarian photographers are storytellers. Their images tell narratives filled with emotion and grit. From highlighting situations of desperation to moments of hope, these photographs tell stories of life. Joining one of these workshops, you will spend your days teaming up with local social impact organizations to tell their stories. Your images will give a powerful visual voice to organizations combating various socio-economic issues. In the past, we have partnered with organizations that are advocating for female empowerment, environmental conservation, gender equality, animal welfare, and many other powerful causes.
Learn about nonprofit photography and document the work of inspiring social impact initiatives
Humanitarian photography focuses on documenting people, communities, and situations affected by crises, conflict, poverty, or disaster. The goal is to raise awareness, inspire action, and support advocacy or fundraising efforts—always with respect, dignity, and consent.
Check out our blog on humanitarian photography to learn more.
While photojournalism often seeks to report news quickly and commercial photography promotes products or services, humanitarian photography is mission-driven. It aims to tell human-centered stories that support non-profits, NGOs, or grassroots movements in their advocacy, education, or fundraising efforts.
Ethical standards are essential in humanitarian photography. Photographers work with informed consent, cultural sensitivity, and a strong commitment to avoiding exploitation or stereotypes. Subjects are portrayed with respect—highlighting resilience, strength, and context rather than victimhood.
In humanitarian photography, less is often more. The most basic gear—when used thoughtfully—can be the most effective. Since nothing is staged, flexibility and readiness matter more than having every lens in your kit.
A reliable camera with strong high ISO performance is ideal, especially in low-light situations like classrooms or people’s homes. That said, there’s no need to buy new gear—what you already have is often enough. Challenging yourself with manual settings can sharpen your awareness of composition and light, often leading to more intentional, impactful images.
"It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning – I believe that it can really make a difference to individuals, organisations and their work. It is such a powerful tool to connect people to people." Discover more about our Photographic Guide, Anna Lusty.
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