Women & Girls Empowerment: Photography Services
Supporting Women’s Development Programs
Begining in 2006 the state of Bihar, India has implemented a comprehensive program aimed at enhancing maternal and child health through the Jeevika initiative, focusing on improving access to healthcare services and education. The program emphasizes prenatal and postnatal care, ensuring that expectant mothers receive adequate medical attention and nutritional support. It also includes training healthcare workers to provide essential services in rural areas, where access to healthcare has been historically limited. Furthermore, the Jeevika program promotes community awareness regarding the importance of maternal health and child nutrition, encouraging families to seek timely medical assistance. By integrating these strategies, the initiative strives to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, contributing to the overall health and well-being of families in Bihar. I have had the fortune to witness and photograph programs in Bihar that have been associated with Jeevika since 2017 and returned there in March 2025 where I photographed several programs supported by the Center for Catlysing Change (C3 India) supporting womens
As we entered 2025, the world of international development began experiencing an tsunami that is reshaping the entire sector and how this work is done, probably forever. Even when things feel chaotic and without hope, we must continue to seek ways to innovate so that critical initiatives can continue around the world. While the future of many programs supported by USAID are uncertain at best, I am fortunate to be working with organizations around the world that are seeking other mechanisms to advance gender equity and development. I recently returned from a trip to India where I am collaborating with C3 India (Center for Catalyzing Change) with the stated objective to “equip, mobilize, educate, and empower women and girls to achieve gender equality”.
Photography is a powerful tool for communicating the goals, dreams, vision and pride of these women of all ages in these critical programs. I particularly like to capture and sharing the stories of women’s entrepreneurship as well as gender equity which remains a significant barrier around the world.
While images can convey powerful messages, the messages must be carefully planned and selected to achieve the increasingly complex world of a wide range of influential stakeholders, politicians and advocacy groups as well as the beneficiaries themselves.
For more than a decade, I have captured photographs and video that document programs addressing inequities while creating advocacy for girls and women facing obstacles in the United States and abroad. if this area of development is your work and your passion, I would love the opportunity to collaborate to discuss how communication and imagry can support your fundraising and program support startegies.
Visual Storytelling and Creating Photos that Highlight Women’s Empowerment
Photography is more than a technique or art—it is an advocacy tool. When collaborating with you to create imagery for womens programs, I always prioritize an understanding the cultural, social, and economic contexts of the women whose stories I seek to document. My goal is always to create visual narratives that honor women’s journeys while promoting actionable support for programs that advance opportunities for women and girls. Now more than ever, getting the stories of how these programs impact individuals is more important than ever.
While many of my images can tell a story on their own, they are often part of larger narratives designed to align with the mission of the development programs with whom I partner. Whether creating content for social media campaigns, donor reports, or community exhibitions, I works closely with organizations to ensure the imagery supports their specific advocacy goals. As I have described for other projects, the results are always strongest when the collaboration with marketing and communication teams is robust. I pride myself in the ability to ask hard questions regarding strategic intent and to productively collaborate to create meaningful outcomes.
Advancing Women in Non-Traditional Leadership Roles
Photography and video serves as powerful tools for documenting and advancing women in non-traditional leadership roles. In various projects, I have sought to reflect the strength and resilience of these women but also challenge stereotypes associated with leadership. By highlighting their stories, I aim to inspire others and foster a broader understanding of the diverse expressions of leadership.
I will soon be visiting Bihar and Kolkata, India to photograph the work of the non-profit known as Center for Catalyzing Change (C3I). They mentor women and train them to take the lead in addressing structural problems to address gender inequities and remove barriers to work, healthcare, education.. I will update this post to include some of the output of this important work. Please subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss updates on these exciting programs.
Highlighting Women Entrepreneurship as a Pathway to Empowerment
Entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of many women’s empowerment programs, offering a pathway to financial independence and community leadership. I love to engage in such projects and capture the fascinating innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of these strong women. Whether it’s a woman running a small textile business, leading a cooperative, or innovating within a traditionally male-dominated field, it is the goal to celebrate the determination and ingenuity of women while emphasizing the systemic support needed to sustain their successes.
A Collaborative Process
One of the hallmarks of my approach is collaboration. Before the first photograph is taken, I always prefer to spend a good deal of time to engage with and listen to program staff and ultimately, the subjects themselves. In fact, I have created a methodology to capture and refine strategic intent for photography projects through use of a template known as the Humanitarian Photography Brief. This participatory method fosters trust and results in images that feel personal, genuine, and deeply impactful. Click on this link to download a free copy and send me a message if you would like to discuss in more detail. In light of the range of current challenges being faced by our sector, the planing phase become more critical than ever.
