About Photoshare

Photoshare is a service of the Knowledge for Health (K4Health) project, helping international nonprofit organizations communicate health and development issues through photography. We welcome you to browse the Photoshare collection, request images for non-profit educational use, and learn more about development photography on our website. Most importantly, we invite you to share your own photos. The scope and quality of the Photoshare collection depends entirely on the generosity of those who are willing to freely share their photos as a way to help advance the work of public health professionals and organizations around the world.

The Photoshare Collection

Developed exclusively for educational and non-profit purposes, Photoshare is a one-of-a-kind photo editorial photography collection covering a broad range of subjects in international development, with a focus on public health. Our on-line image database currently contains more than 20,000 captioned images related to global health and development issues, such as:

• agriculture
• communication
• democracy and governance
• economic development
• environment
• family planning
• global health
• HIV/AIDS
• human interest
• humanitarian assistance
• malaria
• population
• reproductive health
• water, sanitation and hygiene

Photoshare images, generously shared by individuals and organizations around the world, capture the realities of urban and rural life in developing countries, as well as global efforts to improve health and save lives.

The Photoshare collection falls under the category of editorial photography. Unlike commercial photography, which is usually obtained through contracts with professional photographers/models and licenses with stock agencies, editorial photography employs a journalistic approach to taking and using photos. In other words, Photoshare images are intended for documentary use - objective, accurate representation or illustration of a real situation, subject, or physical location.

Information and Knowledge Sharing in Development Photography

In addition to providing access to the Photoshare collection, Photoshare offers Web Site features, tools, and services that may be useful for those who plan to take or use photographs in the field:

Photography and Digital Imaging

Visit this section of the Photoshare Web Site for tips on:

Development Photography Ethics

Visit this section of the Photoshare Web Site for tips on Development Photography Ethics, and Photo Policy Development such as:

  • Laws
  • Ethics
  • Editorial Principles
  • Informed Consent
  • Protecting Privacy
  • Contracting Photographers

Technical Assistance

Contact Photoshare staff for assistance in:

  • Searching the Photoshare database
  • Identifying useful photos for specific materials
  • Planning for a new digital imaging management project
  • Developing organizational policies and guidelines for taking and using photographs