Investing in Emerging Women Photographers
Lensational is dedicated to empowering underrepresented women by providing them with the resources and opportunities they need to tell their stories and achieve meaningful representation of themselves and their communities.
The mission
We recognize the challenges faced by emerging women photographers, especially the financial barriers preventing them from devoting time and resources to their photography pursuits.
The Empower Her Lens Fund
The EmpowerHerLens Collective Fund is an initiative that aims to provide emerging female photojournalists and documentary photographers, particularly those from previous Lensational-led training programs, with financial and technical support to pursue and develop photo project ideas, as well as paid opportunities for commissioned assignments.
Empower Her Lens allows us to direct funding towards them, and to elevate subject matters, which otherwise go unreported in the media.
Make a donation today
As a collective fund, we offer an opportunity for both organisations and private individuals to directly fund and support one or more photographers in advancing their careers and building a pool of knowledge on under-reported issues. With a fundraising goal of $50,000 GBP annually, we extend invitations to both individuals and organizations to contribute to the fund
From £2
From £500
From £1500
From £2500
partnerships.
Previously commissioned projects
To date our photographers have benefited from paid assignments amounting to an estimated £ 7500 commissioned through both partner organisations and individual donors. Discover their published projects below.
The approach in details
Eligibility for funding, is contingent on photographers demonstrating a clear commitment to a defined set of ethics and a non-extractive approach in both research and proposed documentation methods. This ensures that the supported projects align with ethical standards and contribute positively to the communities and persons being documented.
To set the aspiring storytellers up for success in this process, we are in actively investing in the skill development of our target emerging photographers through advanced training programs and tips provided via our social media channels.
Open pitches
Open pitch calls are opportunities for photographers to pitch their story ideas all year-round, which are open and accessible to emerging documentary female photographers from all across the globe. Your donations allow us to fund more such projects in a given year.
Themed pitches
Themed pitches are photo project proposal submissions that are targeted to a particular topic. These can be funded by Lensational, or in collaboration with an investing or funding partner, on a topic of choice.
Then what?
Advocacy
Funded projects are published as compelling photo stories on our platforms, reaching a wide audience eager to learn about the diverse issues they tackle. Each photo story is curated to not only showcase the creative talent of the photographer but also to provide an in-depth look into the topics explored.
We also develop a range of knowledge products that complement and expand on the topics presented in the photo projects. These include blogs and opinion pieces authored by a team of experts in the relevant fields.
To further amplify the reach of our photo projects, provide greater exposure for our emerging photographers, and ensure that these important stories gain the attention they deserve, we actively collaborate with media and distribution outlets to secure global coverage.
Help fund a photographer's work. Become an Empower Her Lens Donor
Your donation makes a big difference.
Send us an email and we will let you know exactly how your donation is being used.
Contact us
Contact: info@lensational.org if you have any questions on Empower Her Lens partnerships.