If you’ve ever had the feeling that photography isn’t taken seriously these days, you might be interested to learn that Getty Images is offering $85K in three new editorial grants to support photojournalists and photographers. organizations, with a focus on supporting photographers whose work shines through the issues of our time.
I spoke with Jay Davies, Director of Photography, EMEA News at Getty Images, who provided information on the grants being offered.
The first grant was the Getty Images Grant for Editorial Photography: Forced Displacement, which is given to individual photographers in the form of three grants, each worth $5,000. “Previously, this grant has been awarded to a variety of topics, but starting in 2020, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seemed appropriate to create a specific topic that reflects this worldwide event. We want to encourage applicants to explore their own backyard. We want applicants to report how the pandemic has affected their communities. Jay said.
This year, the theme focuses on Forced Transposition. In this category, the judges will be looking for visual journalists to show the impact of people around the world being forced to flee their homes due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events that seriously disrupt public order.
Entries may be in the form of a photo essay. This could be a new project or a continuation of an ongoing work. It’s important to note that no matter where you live, you can explore the subject of Forced Displacement. “We are definitely looking for geographic diversity. Obviously, events in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis were the driving force, but we wanted it to be broader than that. We don’t want to just encourage photographers from the front lines. This catalog is also looking at the ripple effect of these traumatic events. There are consequences from worldwide events that are affecting all of us, no matter how far away the conflict we may be. Having ways to explore these stories doesn’t necessarily mean running into danger or danger. Jay said.
It should be noted, however, that this allowance is open to professional photographers, defined as those who earn more than half of their income from photography. “It is very possible that a part-timer could knock out the jury and win this grant. But historically, the winners are all highly regarded, experienced photographers” Jay said. There is an opaque application process and the judges are a mix of experts from across the industry.
The second grant is the Getty Images Editorial Grant to the Photography Programs and has two grants of $15,000. These grants are awarded to organizations that support documentary photography and those who practice that organization, through community involvement or professional development. The awards are for educational programs, seminars, exhibitions and other initiatives that strengthen photography as a means of journalism. These grants are available to organizations adjacent to the photo industry. “Maybe they are an exhibition space or an educational program. Jay said.
The third grant is the Getty Image Inclusion Grant, and there are eight grants worth $5,000, each awarded to editorial photographers and videographers from different career specialties. “Each grant has a different emphasis. One for news and documentaries. The other category is for art and entertainment. We have a sports allowance. Finally, video and multimedia funding.” It should be noted, one of the grants will be for a non-twin or transgender photographer. These grants are open to photographers around the world to promote greater diversity and inclusion in the photography and media industries.
To ensure that these grants go to a diverse group of photographers, Getty Images has partnered with two outside organizations. An organization is Woman’s photo, a professional organization promoting greater gender expression in photography with female photographers, female identity photographers, and non-binary photographers. Second organization, Diversify photos Iconceptually similar to a more global demographic.
Collaboration with various organizations like these is important to Getty Images. “We want to expand the reach of our sponsorship. Both groups maintain a database of photo editors of color from around the world and can help ensure that important stories are not told from just one perspective. Another change to Getty Images is a willingness to award grants to non-expert photographers. “For most of the history of our grant program, they were just professional grants. Over the past few years, we have been offering inclusion scholarships to people in undergraduate programs and continuing education programs,” Jay said.
For photographers interested in applying for any of the aforementioned Getty Images grants, Jay recommends that you first edit your images into a robust portfolio. “While each of these grants has different criteria, there are certain things you can do to enhance your ability to serve. Get input from people you trust about how your portfolio should look. There are many photographers who are not good editors. Find editors and get their input”. In the case of grants awarded in conjunction with the Women Photograph, being able to clearly present the project’s story was key. “Show that you have told similar stories in the past. We get a lot of applicants recommending a daring story but there isn’t any proof that they can take on a project of that scale. If you’re going to suggest a Great Barrier Reef story, at least show that you’ve photographed underwater in the past,” says Jay.
For project-based pitches, the jury needs to understand how the amount will assist the photographer in completing the sponsorship. “Some people have ambitious projects that will take a large sum of money to complete and the grant may not be significant in completing the project. Grants must have a purpose. Some projects are very small or close to completion and the judges may wonder what the photographer would do with the money. Photographers may have exhausted all their storytelling potential and we’re wondering what else to do,” says Jay.
For grants awarded in conjunction with Diversify Photos, the photographer can display a joint portfolio. “Candidates have a lot of latitude to showcase their talents. If you’re talking about a joint portfolio, it’s important to showcase a wide range of skills but still have aesthetic coherence. Additionally, with this grant, they are looking for photographers who are at a pivotal moment in their careers. This could be an up-and-coming photographer who just needs a promotion at this point, or it could be someone who recently left staff and is now freelance. This grant can make a real impact on their career trajectory.”
You can find more information about these and other benefits on the website: https://grants.gettyimages.com/. With Getty Images placing a special emphasis on increasing diversity and amplifying thematic storytelling, there has never been a better time to apply for a grant. Applications for the latest round of funding will be open from April 1 to May 15, 2022.
