by Laura Lorenz, PhD, MEd and Diana Weggler 

Photovoice Worldwide 

For more than 30 years, photovoice has been used by people all over the world as an action research tool to create positive change. A participatory visual approach using photographs and captions, photovoice creates opportunities for people with valuable lived experience—often referred to as “co-researchers”—to have a voice in the policies and decisions that affect their health, lives, and communities.  

At the outset, facilitating your first photovoice project may seem overwhelming, but it need not be. A little forethought and planning will go a long way toward getting you started. With that in mind, here are five things you will definitely want to think about before undertaking your project, along with some tips and best practices to support successful outcomes. 

1. Who will be interested in my project and its findings, and what can they do to support future action? 

Brainstorm a list of “stakeholders” (in this case, we are talking about decision makers, policy makers, community leaders, and other leaders). Think of them as the people who have the power to make change happen. 

Best Practice: Consider engaging some stakeholders before your project even begins. Can they come to a project session, host a field trip, provide expertise, host an exhibit, or suggest solutions?  

Tip: Continue to brainstorm about stakeholders with your group throughout the project. As you do, ideas and connections will emerge, resulting in new and different ways to achieve action or reach important audiences with your project. 

2. Who do I want to participate in my project, and how will I recruit them? 

You may already have a group in mind, perhaps connected to a school, church, after-school program, or other community-based organization. Recruiting from a pre-existing organization is certainly a time saver, but it is by no means the only way.  Consider creating an engaging flyer, newspaper ad, or video and publicizing the opportunity broadly.  

Best practice: Whatever your method of recruitment, make sure to explain the project, its activities and goals, and the benefits of participating.  

Tip: If your project involves young people, think about parents or guardians, and their information needs as well.  

3. How do I decide on a project topic? 

While you may have a specific topic in mind before your project begins, true action research means deciding on a topic and photo-taking questions together with your participants. What do they want to investigate? What questions will they be answering with their cameras?  

Best Practice: Be ready to work on your listening skills; go into the space with no preconceptions and learn how to confront your biases. Providing a safe space for participants is a crucial part of the experience. 

Tip: You may want to consider starting with just one question and adding more as your project progresses. Providing more than one opportunity for your co-researchers to take photos and discuss them together will support meaningful photo taking and impactful exhibits.

4. How can we engage important audiences who will view our work?  

Once you have your photovoice photos and captions organized and ready to share, how and where will you exhibit them? Do you want to use a public venue, such as a library, city hall, or school? Or would an online exhibit be best? Brainstorm within your group around which audiences you want to reach and what outreach might inspire positive action. Work with your group to plan and implement outreach and advocacy efforts.  

Best practice: Engage stakeholders in helping to determine how and where to share your work. 

Tip: Consider developing multiple sharing opportunities (e.g., both in-person and online exhibits, YouTube videos, and events) to reach a larger audience. 

5. After our project is finished, how can we expand our impact and keep the conversation going? 

Once your project is finished, consider having your group meet with interested stakeholders to discuss possible solutions and action steps. What ideas emerge? How can your group be involved? Are new internships, projects, programs, or outreach possible? What about conference presentations?  

Best Practice: Once you have completed one photovoice project, you can use your new knowledge and skills to keep the momentum going! Apply for a grant opportunity to fund your next project! 

Tip: Whether the conversations continue or not, and whether action is achieved or not, you can be sure that your photovoice project has planted seeds of community participation that will flourish over a lifetime. Take pride in that! 

For further learning from Photovoice Worldwide —including courses, workshops, trainings, and consulting—visit www.photovoiceworldwide.com.