5 Ways To Use your Camera as an Outreach Tool

MISSIONS PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES~Part 4

These are ideas that has been growing in me for quite some time. Outreach does not need to stop just because you have a camera in your hand.  Maybe you are the team’s official photographer or you might be on assignment for an organization. My supposition here is that this piece of equipment can enhance your outreach abilities. When I say outreach, I am talking about evangelism, pointing someone towards Christ in word and deed and by planting seeds. I can’t say that I have always done all of these, but it is something I have pondered and begun to be more intentional about. While this is a missions series which implies going to the outermost parts, these are things that can be used even in your home country and local communities.

This is Grace. She was so grateful to receive a hot meal and what she called a real coat at a soup and coat giveaway by 422CHURCH.COM in Norristown, PA. Having a camera in my hand has opened many doors to conversations that I would't normally be bold enough to start.

Here are 5 possibilities in no particular order.

1. Give away FREE prints. It is a common courtesy and a great marketing tool in the wedding industry to shoot the floral arrangements and cake, and then to give an image to the florist and caterers. But what about the people that you shoot in poorer nations who almost never own a print of themselves. I know of one photographer who travels with a small portable printer just for such situations. And still others who travel with Polaroid cameras. What do you write on the back? I suggests words of encouragement. What do you say to them? I suggest words of friendship and gratitude. 

     What if you are a missionary living in a new area? This maybe a great way to meet the people around you, to begin a relationship as well as learn their names and stories. It also gives you a visual of the people you are praying over and they remember your kindness.

     Several organizations have sprung up in recent years…Help Portrait is one….photographers around the world volunteer for one day to take formal portraits of those that are least likely to ever have had one taken and give them a print that day without charge. These photographers do this yearly as a way to give back and not promote themselves. Consider setting up a photo booth at your next community outreach, printing and giving the photos away. You would be surprised at the reaction especially those that need a lift in spirit.

2. Sponsor a photo contest or show and then follow-up with outreach opportunities. I was privileged to be a part of something like this in Russia where I was able to teach a photo class as followup to a photo contest that was promoted locally through Russian social media. The young people that came were unchurched and were not at this event to hear a missionary speak but rather the words of a photojournalist (who happen to be Christian). Three-quarters of the way through the session, I gave my testimony as it relates to my photography. It was non-threatening and pointed the students towards the sponsoring church. When I left, this same church was brainstorming for ways to keep this group of young people engaged through photography-related events. I know for a fact this church continues to use photography as an outreach tool. This past Christmas I had the privilege of contributing to a photo show for its local community outreach called Christmas Around the World.

The photography group in action, learning, doing and at the show.

3. Teach a photo workshop to children and have them tell their stories. While working in Argentina, my team from CBU was able to invite kids to come to a week-long workshop for the arts. We taught painting, drawing, photography, drama and writing. At this workshop, we were more free to be open with the Word, so each night we had a theme and someone to give a personal testimony that related to the theme. At the end of the week, the kids had a public showing of their work in the community and parents were invited. The best report was a mother who could not believe the positive changes she had seen in her son in just one week. His art had grown but so had his outlook in life. 

     There are several organizations that put cameras in kids hands.  They teach them about basic photographic techniques and release them to tell their story. Many times, these are kids who have been traumatized and cannot verbally express what they feel but putting a camera in their hands allows them to visually express their world and tell their own story in ways that we might not be able to. It is a also a great way to mentor them, build relationships and find more effective ways to speak into their lives.

     I was in Uganda last year where our team was visiting a home for displaced children from a conflict area. We were to spend one-on one time with the children. The young lady I was visiting with was very interested in my camera. I almost never let anyone else use my equipment, but something was different this time around. I (reluctantly at first) put the strap around her neck, changed the settings to automatic and gave her basic instructions. We walked around the facility as she gleefully but seriously captured her friends. We would stop every once in a while and talk about the things she was seeing. Her images were stunning. They were a much different perspective than I would have taken...they were hers-- someone who was living that situation not a temporary by-passer like me. I am not sure who spoke more into whose life that day...my words into hers or her images into mine. 

Images shot by 10yr old Scovia, the young girl at Uganda Jesus Village where I spend
an hour or more teaching photography and talking about life. The image on the left is of
one of the house mothers named Susan, when Scovia took this image we stopped and
talked about the look of love that you can see in Susan face and what that means.

4. Develop a self-image talk. Have you ever photographed someone who has very low self-esteem or very down on themselves? What words of encouragement can you give them when you show them the image on the back of your camera? What scriptures come to mind that speak of worth and value? This is where I want to see the person not for what is physically before me but for how Christ sees them and for who they really are in Him. Have a very short pep talk prepared but be ready to take it further if they open the doors for more. Sometimes you may need to give this talk before you make the photo but also be prepared to not take the image. This means respecting their wishes. Always leave them feeling better about themselves and who God made them to be. (1 Samuel 16:7, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalms 139:14, Matthew 6:25-34)

Kim praying with a young girl in South Africa.
(Photo by JP Young)

5. Exercise the spiritual gifts God gave you. If you have the gift of encouragement, take the time to speak with your subjects before or after you shoot them. If you have the gift of prophecy, gifts of knowledge or even healing, use the few minutes you have to speak into people's lives. Show them the images you took on the back of your camera and begin to speak what God gives you. You can simply start by saying, "you know, when I look at this image I see...(at this point you start declaring what God says that they are)". It does not have to be a drawn out sermon but rather a nugget of truth that they can hold onto. This is an exercise in faith that I am working through now. It takes prayer and knowing the voice of God. It means being obedient to speak what He is telling you to speak. It means making sure what you say lines up with scripture and contains words of life. This doesn't need to be spooky but rather a natural yet purposeful progression of allowing God to work through you. 

The camera is only the tool to open the door to another's life. What you do with it depends on you. Do you click the shutter and walk away, or do you allow God to speak through you? The camera should never be something you hide behind. For me, it has given me the freedom to speak with others that I otherwise might never have done so without it in my hand. It has become a tool for starting conversations. By talking to the people and learning their stories, it has opened up so many doors and hopefully it will for you as well if you are purposeful with it.

Children love the camera. They will naturally congregate to the person who pulls one out. I talked with this young man in a village in Northern Uganda several times over the course of two days. I will always ask the kids about their  hopes for the future and what their current challenges are. This almost always leads to encouragement and prayer.

     When I am on location specifically for ministry or personal photography, I am much more about relationship first. Now, as a photojournalist I have been trained to not interject my own story into the mix but to be objective about what I capture. When on assignment, I do my job first. I am still relational but more careful about not giving my subjects too much information about myself. When you do this, they begin to give you what they think you want to hear and it is not completely genuine. When I am finished and I know that I have captured the story and done it justice, then I begin to walk in steps 4 and 5 above. I will encourage the person in whatever way that they need. I will speak into their lives. When appropriate, I will pray with them for their needs and concerns, and if it is applicable, I will tell them how God helped me overcome similar situations. I never force it.  I let my conversations develop naturally out of questions that I ask them and what they themselves reveal about their life. What this means is that I listen and observe a lot. It is also important to be culturally relevent. Do not interject what you think they ought to do based on what you would do in your own culture. I also try to point them towards those that we have partnered with so that they can receive follow-up and more seeds can be planted. But most of all I get out of the way and let God do what he wants to do in that person. Like I said I am still growing in the area. I do not do this every time but the more I yield to Him, the more this form of ministry develops. I am amazed at how God knows exactly what each person needs.

Please leave a comment and tell us what has worked for you...or ideas you may have.

Relationships First in Missions Photography

MISSIONS PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES~Part 3

I learned a very valuable lesson from one of my missions teams a few years back. We were in Bulgaria in an area with a large Roma population (Gypsies). We arrived at a pre-school to do a presentation. In a brightly colored room sat a half dozen toddlers on miniature chairs. The teacher apologized that the majority of the class was not there because it was wood-cutting season and the older ones (the 4 and 5 yrs olds) were out gathering wood with the parents. My team, which outnumbered the kids, were moved by the 2 and 3 year old cuteness and in unison all took out their cameras and began taking photos like the paparazzi. The children were terrified, there may have even been some tears. The adults were speaking a strange language, towering above them snapping away as if they really didn't see what was happening. I saw it immediately and put my own camera away, bent down and started interacting with the kids on their level. The team caught on and followed suit. After some time of playing with the kids, when their fears were gone and the trust was built back up, I then brought out my camera and took some photos to their delight. Simple interaction changed the whole atmosphere.

Having fun with a new friend in Brazil before getting down to business. It may not seem like much but it opens the doors of trust. (Photo by Jenny Custock)

Friendship and a smile goes a long ways when you meet new people. One of my mantras is to always show the love of Christ FIRST, even if that means putting the camera away. You can take photos of a lot of nameless people who are just interesting faces in a crowd but the moment you stop, learn their name, learn a little bit about them, the images take-on new meaning. This also opens the door for more meaningful conversation, better images and even ministry. 


Confessions of an introvert. It is easy to use your camera as a shield especially if you are an introvert. Hiding behind your equipment hoping no one sees you but then spraying them with shutter clicks as you swing your gaze over the crowd.  You tell yourself that you have a job to do and that you don't have to talk to "them" to make good images. Many photographers are preoccupied with shooting and *chimping, so much so, that they don't really see or acknowledge those in front of them. On occasion you may miss the spontaneousness of the moment but I would much rather be making photos that have names and stories attached to them than taking images that leave both the photographer and subject empty. As an introvert I have had to really push myself to go beyond the invisibility bubble many photographers place themselves in. The fly on the wall approach has its place in certain journalistic situations but this is not one of them.
     There are some cultures that do not like their photo taken. In those situations you always build the relationship first. Over time you may be given the honor of photographing them but it is a matter of trust. And if you don't get the image the relationship is really most important. I love a quote from Photographer Greg Schneider, he says, “I love images, but images are not reality. We are called to be more passionate about people than pictures of people.”

Lauren snaps a few photos of a couple of young boys in
South Africa. Boys that we had spent time interacting with first
even though we did not speak their language.

Time: There are some exceptions but this still doesn't make you exempt from making gestures of kindness especially when the subject is looking at you. There are times when you are covering an event and you do not have the luxury of this type of relationship building. You have to shoot what is happening as it happens but a smile and acknowledgement goes a long way in letting the subject know that you see them much more than just part of the landscape. Smiles, hand gestures, raising or lowering your camera, nodding your head are but a few polite measures to ask permission to shoot or even thank them.
     When you have the luxury of time, spend it with a few people getting to know them. While up in the mountains just above Bogota, Colombia I was to shoot a story on two children. The first day was spent playing with the children, getting to know them and gathering the back story from those that knew them. The second day we captured the interview and some images and the third day we were able to capture more intimate moments that took time to develop. Had we tried to do it all the first day the children would not have opened up. I've been in several situations where that was the case. Time and relationship really are key.


Language: Learn phrases in the host countries language. Be bold and unafraid to try what you know. While working in Argentina with a co-worker I learned another valuable lesson. Neither of us spoke Spanish fluently but knew words and phrases. I have always been good at picking up languages but had been afraid to use it because I couldn't speak full sentences. My co-worker however was fearless. She butchered everything but got exactly what she requested even when it was one word posed as a question. My next country was Honduras also Spanish speaking, so I decided then and there I was going to be fearless too. People appreciate it when you try. They will even teach you more if you are receptive. Before arriving make yourself a cheat sheet of phrases and rehearse it often and then use it, even if it is only five words!  (Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, photo?)

Well-traveled notebooks with the all important names
and stories

Names: I always carry a small notebook with me and write down the names of the people I talk to. I tell them I want to remember them and their story and then I ask if it is okay that I write a few notes. I usually make a joke about my age and that I have to write things down to remember. They laugh and oblige. If it is a name that is completely foreign I will often have them write it down for me. If appropriate after our time is finished I tell them that I will pray for them and I will make note of that as well so that I remember to do so. I have a lot of little notebooks now but they are priceless because of the stories they contain. I will review them from time to time and pray over many of them. When possible I also transfer this information into the IPTC metadata in the form of keywords and captions so that the images are properly labeled.
     I would have to say that this has been a long process to get to this point. Speaking to new people is not natural to me, but the more I do it the more I am rewarded with more than just an image. I feel like I am now able to do the person justice by learning their name and story. I am giving them a voice and am able to honor them by shooting with their co-operation rather than just taking the image without really knowing a thing about them.

The lovely Aisha, in Uganda was a bit shy
but she had no problems telling me the story of Moses.
A story she says that taught her how to be faithful.

     There is much more that can be said about this topic from shooting people with dignity in difficult situations to the ethics and exploitation of shooting certain things. Please share your comment and stories. Let's create a meaningful dialog, I would love to know what you think... 

*chimping is looking at your images after you shot them and "Ooo, oo, oohing over them" like a chimp 
~Urban dictionary

Top 10 Shot List for Missions Photographers

MISSIONS PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES~PART 2 

It's not about you. The direction that you aim your camera really speaks volumes to your purpose and focus. Ministry is always others-focused and so your photography should be as well. Have you ever looked through someone's web album only to see a lot of arms-length self-portraits, or pictures of the group making silly faces, or the group in front of the tourist locations? There will probably be a few food pictures thrown-in and even some local animals but have you ever wondered, what did they do? Who did they reach? This is typical of personal pictures, which we all do and I am not condoning it. But with missions photography you need to be a more purposeful and respectful story-teller. The point of missions is reaching others, tell their story not yours. But remember, to tell the story in a way that brings honor to God and not exploit the misfortunes of others. 

These women find refuge and hope after life on the streets of Bucharest @ Jubilee-Romania

Preparation: Before any trip, I will do some internet searching about the location. I will learn its history, statistics, and culture. I will see what images have been made from that location. I suggest creating an inspiration board of the images you hope to capture. Mine are often in my head but I have scoped out the digital landscape so to speak and have already started thinking about the approach I want to take with my story, the images I hope to capture and what I might expect once I get there.  I am not doing this to copy what someone else has done but to prepare myself to take it further, to show what hasn't been shown before. I then take these things to the Lord in prayer to get His perspective. I also make a shot list. If I am shooting for an organization I will always ask what their expectations are because the images I envision may be different from what they are expecting. I learn as much about the culture as I can, by doing so sharpens my awareness once I get there. There will always be surprises but far fewer with preparation.

Top Ten Shot List for your visual narrative.

CAPTURE PLACES AND CULTURE TO SET THE SCENE. 

The Orthodox Church is a dominant
force in Romania.  Shots like this can give
your story cultural context.

10. Wide shots that include the landscape, architecture, and the physical locations that you do ministry. 

9. Wide to medium shots of the surrounding areas where the people live and work. 

8. Medium to close-up shots of the culture: dress, food, customs, religious icons. I always look for a symbol of the country such as the flag for immediate identification. 

THINK ABOUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO TELL YOUR STORY AND WHO YOUR MAIN AUDIENCE WILL BE 

7.  Multi-media: If you are able to shoot video consider getting "b" role of the roads you travels, transportation, crowds of people moving to help move your presentation, if not, shoot photo sequences (time-lapse photography) of movement. Also capture audio of local sounds and interviews. I like to pick-up some of the local music if possible.
CAPTURE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND HOW IT IS DONE IN A VARIETY OF MEDIUM AND CLOSE-UP SHOTS AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF ANGLES.
6.  Capture everyday activities of the team and the people you serve. Worship, eating, meeting, daily life....

Look for different angles to tell the story. This window view
gives you a more complete picture of this after-school program
in Campina Romania.

5. Capture all ministry-related activity. Speaking, praying, building, caring etc...

Gene,  the clown captures a young girls attention
at a church in Moura Noua, Romania.

4. Group shot: look for a location with great light that gives your team context. Think about this early-on in the trip so you are not shooting everyone on the hotel stairs the very last morning.
CAPTURE THE MAIN SUBJECTS.

3. Team Members: Capture candids of each person active in ministry and with the locals. Make sure you have someone capture you in action! 

Kathy Walker with Bible-Missions engages the children
and receives some smiles at this Romanian orphanage. 

2. In-Country Hosts:  Candids of your local co-laborors, career missionaries, or NGOs in action are always appreciated. NOTE 1: Be sure to leave a copy of your images with these people. NOTE 2: be careful if you are working in a sensitive country, in which case, you will need to conceal their identities instead.

1. The people you are serving. Capture their response to the gospel. Get close-ups and emotion. Get faces. NOTE 1: capture these images in a way that honors them. More on that in another blog post. NOTE 2: again be careful if you are working in a sensitive country, in which case you will need to conceal these peoples identity. It can be done, but you will need to be creative. I recommend doing so in-camera and not with photoshop.

Close-ups and reactions answer the bigger questions
of why you came as well as the possibilities of
transformation and hope.

Shoot a lot but edit mercilessly later. You do not want to show all your images, only the strongest ones that tell the story. Be careful what you post online. While social media is a world-wide phenomenon, once the images are out there (believe me, they will be found) you have no control how it is used by others. Some people will be pleased to see their images while others not so much. Be very careful what you write and post as you are shaping people perceptions about that location and people group.
    Now if you are shooting for a missionary group or organization focus on individual stories that highlight the nature of their outreach. Spending a significant amount of time with the subject will help you understand and tell the story the right way. The story of the "one" will always have the greatest impact.


Next week I will discuss what I call relationship-first photography.

Don't forget to get the detail shots. In Romania appropriate physical touch
is so important in reaching those that are forgotten.

The Lord is my light... Psalm 27:1

Missions Photos with a Purpose

MISSIONS PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES ~ PART ONE: 

Pictures Speak in Ways That We Cannot.

Several young men in South Africa waiting to have
their eyes checked at a free clinic with Blessman Ministries. 

The following situations may apply to you: You plan for months to leave on your first missions trip with the idea of changing the world. Or perhaps this has become an annual event and you can't get enough of it, or you have taken the steps to become a career missionary. What does photography have to do with reaching our world for Jesus? And how can you best utilize this tool? Some of you may be amateur photographers but desire to become better, others have an iphone and are not afraid to use it, and still others are wondering how to become a professional in this area?
    This is a summer blog series on the many aspects of Missions photography. Every Monday morning for the next several weeks, many more topics will be explored: from relationship-first photography to using your camera as a witnessing tool, what equipment to use, to cultural sensitivity and any questions you may ask in the process, but today, let's look at purpose. 
    First a little introduction. I have had the privilege of traveling in over 30 countries, doing ministry in at least 19 of those to date with the hope of doing much more. For me, photography has opened many doors of opportunity. Having a camera in my hand has emboldened me to step out of my comfort zone and talk to others I might not have otherwise. Telling stories through visuals has helped to inspire others to reach out. And most of all, it has allowed me to tell the stories of hope of those who cannot speak for themselves.

(Left) Dr. Blessman and his Des Moines, Iowa team greet local volunteers from Mokopane,
Limpopo, South Africa. (Right) Lisa works to get this young mans prescription just right.

Purpose One: Communication. 
If you are going on a traditional missions trip, then you are being sent-out by your donors: your church, friends, and family. You are their hands and feet extended. As part of the process, you will need to report back on the work that they have partnered with and what better way to do that than visually. It is a fact that images make any presentation, whether in print, web or multimedia much more impactful. Visuals of the people you meet and the places and cultures you visit give your audience a framework to build upon and a more memorable point of reference. 
     I know for a fact a few friends and family will never travel to the places I've been (they've told me so). Taking photos has been my way of taking these places to them. There have been a few times when I have been somewhere encouraging others and the faces of those back home flood my mind, and I have been overwhelmed with emotion knowing that my words and actions also represent theirs. It makes me realize that the love of God that is extended not only pours from me but everyone else back home so much so that I have to share the experience and blessings the best way that I know how --visually.

(Left) Ann counsels with this young girl about AIDS prevention and then gives her a
copy of the Book of Hope. A book that she can now read thanks to her new glasses. 

Purpose Two: I call this "pay it forward". 
Visually telling these stories helps future endeavors. This is two-fold. It helps you with your fundraising because people now have a visual reference of what God has done through you and the possibility of what can be. This makes the fundraising process flow a little easier. But the most important are the souls that will be reached. Showing photos of what God has done perpetuates giving to reach more people, both on an ongoing organizational level for those entrenched in various areas of the world and for those at the grassroots level. 
     Okay, the question can now be raised, is this emotional manipulation? This depends on your approach. I believe using photos should be purposeful but never take advantage or exploit another's misfortunes. I prefer the "stories of hope" approach. Yes, you will probably be presented with scenes of starving children, of misery and depressed conditions and abject poverty. I've seen my share of it first-hand. But to only show that is skewing the picture. A more balanced approach works best. Be real about the situation, but make it a point to show those who are making a difference, how they are doing it and what you can do to partner with them. This way people are part of a solution and not just a cause. Show how the proven methods are really making a difference. This is transformational story-telling at its best.

(Left) Most of these children have never had their eyes checked before. Many will leave with a new pair of glasses. They will not only have physical sight restored but spiritual sight as well. (Right) the rugged beauty of South Africa and a bit of hope for many many students who won't be left out due to eyesight issues.

Purpose Three: Story-telling images can bring the world closer to God.                  When Jesus was on this earth, he used word pictures when speaking to the crowds. If he had a camera and the ability to show visuals, I'm sure he would be using that as well. By capturing another person's story especially in a missions setting, you are bringing their transformational story to light for others and showing God's power and love at work. Now, I have also heard how images of starving children have caused people to doubt God's existence, but that is where "stories of hope" are different. I've seen the incredible changes of God at work in this world through obedient hearts and to not show that would be a travesty. All good story-telling shows the conflict, transformation and the solution not just the conflict.

My favorite example is a photo I took of a young boy of eight worshiping in the midst of chaos in a very difficult school in Cape Town, South Africa where drugs and rape are common even in ones so young. I could have easily shot the problems only, but it was his peace and serenity that caught my eye. Six months later while teaching a photography class in Russia, the photo wound up deeply impacting a 20 yr old girl who had to know why his hands were raised and why he looked so peacefully. Since then I have heard stories from other people how this one photo gives them hope. To see what God sees in desperate situations and to be able to capture redemption is a honorable calling, one that I hope many of you aspire to as well.


Next week I will go more into what types of images you should be making to be an effective story-teller.


PS. Wow, this is just the first post in this series and it has sparked so many more ideas. Please ask questions or comment. I'd love to have dialog, different opinions are welcome, just keep your comments civil. If you have tips feel free to share.