Wikipedia Welcomes Pro Photographers

Wikipedia Welcomes Pro Photographers is an orientation program aimed at professional photographers and professionally viable photographers. The program aspires to inspire them about the free content and the Wikimedia movement and the role they could play by hosting their work at Wikimedia Commons making their work available under Creative Commons license and how their contributions could get recognition as author as their work gets used.

Target audience

The Wikimedia movement can benefit from the contributions of professionals who are equipped with expert knowledge and professional gear.

This campaign aims to reach out to professional photographers and professionally viable photographers. This can be done in collaboration with:

Professional photographer groups of a particular locale
Photography clubs of a particular locale
Photography institutions of a particular locale

Type of programs

Orientation workshops along with hands-on upload sessions
Bulk photo donation camps
Follow up editathons and alike
Competitions

Objective

Educating professional photographers about Wikimedia Commons.
Inspiring them to contribute their images in bulk. It is not necessary that they upload all the images by themselves. Volunteers can screen the images, add descriptions, add categories and batch upload them if felt essential.
Retaining professional photographers as contributors for life.

Events

The first event of the series is scheduled to occur in Kolkata. The venue and date are yet to be declared.

Inspiring stories

Prominent wildlife photographer donates images to Wikimedia Commons: On Wikimedia blog