Intentions
Why are you producing or publishing this image?
When making images, think carefully about how the process affects the people involved:
- Who benefits from this image? Think about everyone involved: the person depicted, your audience, and the individual or organization creating or sharing it.
- What do you hope to achieve? Are you aiming to inform, raise awareness, advocate, or tell a story?
- Could the same goal be achieved without revealing a person’s face, identity or vulnerability? Sometimes silhouettes, hands, belongings or symbolic imagery can communicate just as powerfully.
- Are you challenging or reinforcing stereotypes? Consider whether the image portrays people as passive, helpless or dangerous, or as resilient and humanized.
- Are you open about your intentions? Sharing your goals with the person represented helps build trust and ensures they are participating knowingly.
