Volunteer Photographers Aim to Improve Wikipedia's Subpar Celebrity Images

The WikiPortraits project is addressing Wikipedia's longstanding issue of low-quality celebrity images by recruiting volunteer photographers to provide better visuals. This initiative aims to grant volunteers credentials to cover high-profile events and showcase notable individuals with updated, high-quality photographs.

In an age where visual content reigns supreme, Wikipedia—a resource known for its informational wealth—faces a notable dilemma: the prevalence of poor-quality images, particularly of celebrities. Recognizing this issue, a group of dedicated volunteers has launched WikiPortraits, a project aiming to improve the platform's photographic representation.

Wikipedia, being largely volunteer-driven, often struggles to secure high-quality images, especially from professional photographers whose work is often under strict copyright. This limitation has left many Wikipedia pages adorned with outdated or unflattering photographs, inspiring social media accounts that highlight these "terrible" images.

Founders Kevin Payravi and Jennifer Lee initiated WikiPortraits to mobilize volunteer photographers globally, granting them accreditation to capture stunning images at film premieres and industry events. "For years, Wikipedia has lacked quality visuals, particularly for notable individuals," Payravi told the BBC during their coverage of the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, where they set up a photo booth dedicated to this cause.

The humorous nature of some existing photos has not escaped attention; users note that some of the images could easily belong in a rogues' gallery. Notable examples include the comedian Emil Wakim's previous Wikipedia image, which a contributor humorously declared was better off removed. Similarly, a photoshopped image of soccer player Kyle Bartley epitomizes Wikipedia's image dilemma.

Launched in early 2024, WikiPortraits has successfully enlisted 55 volunteer photographers from various corners of the globe, many of whom are enthusiastic Wikipedia editors or photography fans. Among them is Bryan Berlin, a high school photography teacher and stand-up comedian, who first connected with the initiative at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Berlin's passion for improving Wikipedia's image and enhancing the information available to users drives his participation.

"So far, our images attract around 100 million views monthly. The project now features updated images for numerous high-profile celebrities and previously underrepresented figures," one of the photographers noted. For instance, Nobel Prize winner John Jumper now boasts a fresh profile picture, thanks to WikiPortraits.

Photographer Frank Sun has documented major events like Cannes and Sundance, capturing images of iconic figures such as Florence Pugh and Laetitia Dosch. Pugh, in particular, expressed excitement over updating her outdated Wikipedia photo, humorously commenting on the disparity between her current self and her old image.

As WikiPortraits continues to thrive, organizers aspire to draw in more photographers globally while keeping their sights set on significant events like the Met Gala and the Oscars. "Achieving credentials for those events would be a monumental milestone for us," Lee remarked.

With the combined efforts of enthusiastic volunteers and community support, WikiPortraits ultimately aims to ensure that Wikipedia becomes a more visually engaging and informative platform for users seeking accurate representations of celebrities.