"Photovoice is a method that enables people to define for themselves and others, including policy makers, what is worth remembering and what needs to be changed." Caroline Wang

Photovoice as a method puts cameras into the hands of people in order to address issues from their visual point-of-view. Photography offers participants new ways to see their own world and offers researchers new insights and perspectives. As Caroline Wang says:

“Photovoice blends a grassroots approach to photography and social action. It provides cameras not to health specialists, policy makers, or professionals, but to people with least access to those who make decisions affecting their lives…”

“Photovoice is a process by which people can identify, represent, and enhance their community through a specific photographic technique. It entrusts cameras to the hands of people to enable them to act as recorders, and potential catalysts for social action and change, in their own communities. It uses the immediacy of the visual image and accompanying stories to furnish evidence and to promote an effective, participatory means of sharing expertise to create healthful public policy.”


-Quoted from Caroline Wang and Ann Burris definition of photovoice http://www.photovoice.com/background/index.html