VII Community provides ongoing education and support to a network of The VII Foundation’s alumni, numbering more than 1,200 professionals.
VII Community members are connected to the profession through online discussions, presentations, reviews, in-person global meet-ups, and a Discord platform for regular exchanges.
VII Community is a program of The VII Foundation in partnership with PhotoWings.
| Young girls prepare to perform the Bulgarian custom “Lazaruvane” in the village of Kubey, Ukraine, on April 8, 2023.
Mihaela Aroyo
Online Events:
Ask Me Anything
These sessions provide access to first-hand expert knowledge. Whether you are seeking insights into photographic techniques, gear recommendations, or career development advice, these sessions connect you with industry experts.
This series presents live discussions with professionals from across the industry. Each month, we invite experts to engage in live discussions on various topics, including storytelling, writing, ethics, resilience, marketing, editing, and grant writing.
Previous episodes have featured a range of experts, including Victor J. Blue on caption writing and journaling, Ed Kashi on archiving, ACOS Alliance on digital security training, Mathieu Asselin on researchbased documentary photography, and Marcel Saba and Ron Haviv on agency representation.
Join our Community Hangout at the start of each month to learn about upcoming events and connect with fellow members online. These meetings provide a space to discuss various topics, share valuable insights, and exchange your ideas.
| A shepherd goes to the center of what used to be the lakebed of Hamoun to feed his sheep. To feed their stock, men must travel far to find grazing pastures. Aug. 9, 2015, Rig village, Sistan and Baluchistan province, Iran.
Get personalized feedback on your work from industry professionals, including guest editors, photographers, and curators, by joining our Portfolio Reviews.
Every few months, we invite photographers from VII Community to present their stories on The VII Foundation’s online platform for public debate and discussion. Previous events have centered on themes including, stories from small communities and Photo Stories documenting abuse.
| Mr. Valter, an elderly farmer from the area, lost his lands during the conflict. Some years ago, he passed away from ‘heartbreak,’ as the farmers describe it, joining those who suffered from the conflict and died of sorrow.
Join our group workshops to receive personalized feedback from guest editors on selected projects and portfolios submitted by VII Community members.
Previous guest editors and experts include Mike Davis, Stephanie Heimann, Aida Cerkez, Abir Abdullah, Mona Boshnaq, and Marianne Tollié.
| Santa Cruz del Islote is one of 10 islands that make up the San Bernardo archipelago, located off the country’s Caribbean coast. It is the only artificial island in the chain, with a population that varies between 700 and 1,000. The number of residents swells at the end of the year when people who live and work outside the island return to reunite with their families.
Square Mile is an initiative that presents diverse photographic explorations by members of VII Community. It is a geographic framework, signifying a local focus on spaces where personal, local, and global influences intersect. The projects explore how themes such as climate change, identity, history, legacy, migration, gender, and environment appear within a local perspective.
In 2024, Square Mile was exhibited at the Photoville Festival in New York City and screened during Les Rencontres d’Arles Photo Festival and as part of the Kranj Foto Fest in Slovenia.
VII Community’s 1-to-1 Program is exclusively open to our registered members. The program pairs members with advisors who will provide guidance on essential skills for career advancement over six 1-hour advisory sessions.
| Eva, a resident of Duisi village, poses for a portrait wearing a traditional Kist dress. The Kist people, a Chechen subgroup, have lived in Pankisi Gorge for more than 200 years, maintaining their unique customs and traditions. Despite the peaceful nature of the community, the region has faced controversial perceptions due to its predominantly Muslim population and insufficient media coverage.
VII Community’s primary platform is Discord, which serves as a space for open discussion among members and provides a variety of resources through dedicated channels. Some channels have been translated into Arabic, French, and Spanish.
Webpage
VII Community’s resource site is part of The VII Foundation website. It includes hundreds of video resources, including past events, that you can make available in your personalized profile.
