A Creative Pro Bono Partnership
FWD.us
Client: FWD.us
Venue: Varied
Mobile Studio Dimensions: Varied - from 8x8 10 12x12
Guests: Varied, typically 20-50 per engagement
Sessions: 100+
Equipment: 2 D800 Camera Bodies, Nikkor 24-70 f2.8mm lens, Profoto lighting equpment, 7’ overhead umbrella, (1) 4’ strip light, social media kiosk, printer, editing bay, video hub, wind machine, classic black backdrop with variety of textured overlays, Zoom H4N voice recorder, PA system & headsets, 2 iPads for Guest sign-in.
Jonsar Personnel: 1 photographer, 1 interviewer, 1 editor, 1 guest experience coordinator.
The Story
FWD.us is a nonprofit advocacy group that works for meaningful reform of the U.S. immigration system. For several years, we engaged in a pro bono partnership to help FWD.us create portraits of Dreamers and undocumented Americans. FWD.us believes—as we do—that visual storytelling is a powerful tool for inspiring change.
For this project, we combined our premium photo session experience with a documentary-style approach. In addition to photographing our subjects, we interviewed them, then transcribed key responses and composited their words onto their portraits.
THE EVENT
FWD.us coordinated multiple sessions in New York, bringing in groups of 20 to 50 people at a time. (In addition to photographing Dreamers and undocumented Americans, we also held sessions with staff and volunteers within the organization who had personal stories to share from their experiences working on the front lines of immigration advocacy.)
Although the goals of these sessions were different from those of the festive events we often shoot, our core mission remained the same: To bring out the best, most beautiful and most honest version of everyone who stepped in front of our cameras.
Several subjects told us that they were unaccustomed to speaking out about their immigration status—it was a source of fear and anxiety, something they’d spent a long time hiding. Our job was to create a safe, supportive environment in which people could share their stories on their own terms, knowing that we were there to celebrate them for who they really were. After the sessions, we heard from many folks that it was a liberating experience to finally be able to share their truth.
FWD.us featured our composited portraits on their homepage and social media channels, and used them as inspiration for successful national campaigns that asked supporters to share their own photos and immigration stories.
In Their Own Words
“Working with Jonsar has been one of the greatest highlights of my time at FWD.us.”
“ I had an amazing time shooting with you. Thank you for all you’ve done to make a difference for our volunteers, DREAMers and undocumented Americans. This partnership is so special for us and we are really proud of what’s come from it.”
“Everyone who’s experienced your portrait sessions has really, really loved them. We’ve been so impressed with the work your team has done, I cannot thank you enough.”
“These are the best photos that anyone has ever taken of me.”