Documentary photographer & videographer for Save the Children, Senegal

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Documenting projects preventing female mutilation, domestic violence & child marriages.

In Senegal on assignment as an NGO photographer with Children of the World (Världens Barn) and Save the Children (Rädda Barnen), documenting their incredibly important projects preventing female mutilation, domestic violence and child marriages.

 

 

Typical clients for this kind of assignment

  • NGO (a non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group which is organized on a local, national or international level that operates independently of any government, typically one whose purpose is to address a social or political issue)
  • UN – United Nations / Unicef – United Nations Children’s Fund
  • News agencies / Newspapers & magazines / News television channels
  • Delegations
  • Governments

 

 

My mission as a documentary photographer

My mission is to produce visual documentation (images, videos & 360-virtual reality) of programme activities, high-level meetings and major events across the country.

Photojournalism/documentary coverage of supported programmes as well as general advocacy on the subject ie. Coverage can include documentation of programme intervention as well as to be documenting the situation that shows the need for intervention.

Photojournalism/documentary storytelling focused on an individual subject, telling the story through the life and experiences of an individual. Visual storytelling includes captions and first-person quotes furthering the story-telling. Possibly a hero character in the narrative that is facing a challenge. Give some additional personality to the individuals beyond the main problem they are affected by. What kind of things do they love to do? How has the current crisis changed their lives? Make sure there are enough details about their lives in order to make them relatable. Emotional content resonates well with audiences and promotes further sharing. When possible, try to track and share before and after results of a story to show the impact individuals, programme activities and our partners can make.

Portraits of people directly addressing the camera with their gaze, participating in their own representation with personal quotes that serve to further storytelling and engage audience in the issue through identification with an individual. Research has shown that positive images tend to perform better on social media – something to bear in mind for Everyday Voices.

Below are suggestions for good questions for the Everyday Voices series:

  • “If you gave one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be?”
  • “Do you remember the happiest moment of your life?”
  • “What’s your favourite thing about your [relative]?”
  • “What’s your largest goal in life?”
  • “What’s your greatest struggle right now?”

 

Method when working as a photojournalist

  • Photograph programmes, keeping in mind culture, gender and other diverse sensitivities as per Save the Children guidelines. The photographs should be usable for diverse audiences and have universal appeal.
  • Demonstrate a client-oriented approach, tact and ability to work with people of different cultural backgrounds.
  • Ensure effective and efficient provision of services, full confidentiality in all aspects of the assignment, management of information flow and follow-up on deadlines and commitments made
  • Ensure dignity of subjects, particularly in the context of children and vulnerable groups, including people living with or affected by HIV.
  • Write concise, well-edited captions for all high-quality images (captions should be embedded in the images and shared separately as a word document as well.
  • Ensure consent forms are signed by children and/or guardians as per guidelines.
  • Work in close coordination with the communication specialist.