Socially Responsible Photography: Photographing with Intention

Photographers play a crucial role in our society. Now more than ever, it is vital to photograph from a place of social awareness and responsibility.

Join photographer & activist Eva Woolridge for this informative, eye-opening, and thought-provoking Skillshare class to explore the necessity of accountability and its regard to dismantling exploitive photography. Broaden your understanding on identity and how it affects our ability to capture “other” cultures and movements authentically. 

This class is for a photojournalist on the front lines documenting a movement, to a hobbyist photographing the landscape, food, and people abroad. No professional experience is required, only an interest to better understand our roles as photographers, our privileges, and how we can become socially responsible when creating. 

During this class you will learn about :

• Privilege & accountability and how they affect storytelling
• Exploitive travel photography as photographers working abroad
• Identity as a photographer and how to use it as an inspirational source
• Moral values in the photography industry and tactics you can employ to uphold them

My class lecture is open to anyone, and no equipment or software is required, but encouraged. In order to participate in the class project a camera or smartphone is required. Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom is recommended for photo editing, but not required. 

Content warning: Some images in this class may be disturbing to viewers

• Introduction
• The Class Project
• What is Privilege & Accountability?
• Trauma Photography
• Why Story Matters
• Exploitive Travel Photography
• Tactics to Practice Accountability
• Final Project
• Conclusion