Our mission
Ethical images and videos that do justice to everyone
Client: FairTrade Germany
Date: April 2021
Photographer: Nipah Dennis
Location: Ghana, Eastern Region
What if you were in this photograph?
Videos and photos are more than just representations. They bring to our attention people, places, and realities that we would otherwise be unaware of. A fair picture is fair to all those involved in its production, distribution, and consumption. Our goal is that pictures contribute to equal relationships between visual creators, portrayed people, clients, and the general public.
Representation matters
The visual creators at Fairpicture have a strong voice and are engaging and lively. They narrate stories in the native tongue that are influenced by the culture and understanding of the community. In a complex world, we co-create new and innovative ways of storytelling - toward a decolonised and fair picture.
What is a fair picture?
The people portrayed are rights-holders with legitimate demands. They actively participate in visual communication and provide informed consent for the development and usage of pictures and videos. It is their right to have a say in their stories, to be depicted with dignity and respect, and to not have their safety compromised by visual content.
South Africa 2021: Barry Christianson/Norwegian People's Aid/Fairpicture
Stereotypes are harmful. We work with a variety of visual creators in order to avoid this. They understand the local context, speak the local language, and know the local culture. Because the right to be considered and heard extends not only to traditionally marginalised groups but also to often overlook local visual creators, it is critical who tells the story.
Philippines 2021: Alecs Ongcal/Hilti Foundation/Fairpicture
Fairpicture visual creators receive fair payment for their work. Due to the time and effort it takes to produce a fair picture, we have worked out conditions that allow the visual creators enough time to complete their work. Our goal is for Fairpicture visual creators to earn a steady income from regular work.
Burkina Faso 2020: Warren Saré/Solidar Suisse/Fairpicture
An informed citizenry is one that has access to a wide range of perspectives on the many facets of contemporary life. Yet, in the era of generative AI, we need to enhance visual literacy and foster fair pictures that include extensive metadata information about the visual material and a trustworthy description that helps the viewer understand the context in which it was taken. Anyone who uses fair pictures to communicate is responsible for doing so responsibly.
Ghana 2021: Nipah Dennis/Fairtrade Germany/Fairpicture
People's pictures are often personal or even sensitive data. The creation, use, and storage of fair pictures comply with international and local data protection regulations. The integrity and security of the portrayed individuals and their social networks must never be jeopardized by photographs. Furthermore, no picture is worth a visual creator's life.
Mozambique 2021: Mauro Vombe/ HelpAge/ Fairpicture
Climate change is an undeniable reality, demanding collective action. Consequently, a fair picture results in the least amount of emissions possible. Local visual creators are already on-site or are only a short drive away, reducing the need for flights and thus the ecological footprint. Additionally, clients save money on travel and expenses.
Bolivia 2022: Sara Aliaga Ticona/Don Bosco Jugendhilfe/Fairpicture
The ethos of Fairpicture is something I align with. I believe that local people should tell local stories because they understand the nuances of the people and spaces they document.
Fairpicture Theory of Change
Fairpicture's actions are guided by a Theory of Change, believing in the transformative power of visual communication. Fair imagery produced under equitable conditions fosters equal relationships among diverse stakeholders. To achieve lasting impact, we engage clients, portrayed individuals, and the general public in the pursuit of ethical communication. Each stakeholder's specific concerns inform one another, driving genuine change through collective engagement.
We involve all stakeholders to develop indicators across our work dimensions. Continuous qualitative and quantitative evaluation enables us to refine our products and procedures. Through ongoing monitoring and evaluation, Fairpicture enhances its tools and products while improving mechanisms for engaging diverse stakeholders.
Our Theory of Change serves as both an action model and an ongoing process.
Selected blog posts
April 2023 - Jaìr F. Coll
How to talk about consent and Misery Porn?
Misery Porn still persists today in visual storytelling, reducing people to their condition of misery and stripping them of their humanity.
January 2022 - Aurel Vogel
Update #8: Connecting the dots
Progress has a strange pace. Months pass without noteworthy changes and suddenly everything comes together. Last year Fairpicture pretty much followed this pattern. So let’s look backwards and connect the dots.
January 2022 - Fabrice Mbonankira
The life of a story
What makes a good visual story? In his blog, Fairpicture photographer Fabrice Mbonankira places great emphasis on the socio-political dimension of storytelling.