Wikipedia is renowned for its vast repository of knowledge, yet many acknowledge a significant flaw: the poor-quality images of celebrities that frequently populate its pages. In response to this ongoing issue, amateur photographers have launched an initiative called WikiPortraits, designed to enhance the visual representation of notable personalities.
According to project organizers and Wikipedia editors, the platform currently features a slew of outdated or unflattering images, sometimes leading to quirky social media commentary. The primary challenge arises from copyright issues, as professional photographers often own the rights to images from events like film premieres, making them inaccessible for Wikipedia's mostly volunteer-driven model.
With the goal of remedying this dilemma, WikiPortraits seeks to recruit a global network of volunteer photographers with event access. Founders Kevin Payravi and Jennifer Lee, photographing together at festivals like SXSW, emphasized the importance of rectifying Wikipedia's visual portrayal of individuals. Payravi stated, "We've long been conscious of the lack of quality photos on Wikipedia," while Lee added that many contributors are eager to eliminate unsightly images from the platform.
The rules governing image submissions on Wikipedia clarify that only original, freely licensed, or public domain photographs can be uploaded, causing many images to stem from enthusiastic contributors rather than professional photography. While this policy leads to some nondescript visuals, it can also result in hilariously poor photographs that occasionally go viral.
Given the severity of the issue, WikiPortraits began its mission in early 2024. Although photographers are not compensated, they come from various backgrounds, including photography lovers and professionals looking to build their portfolios. As of now, 55 photographers have participated, taking images at prominent events such as film festivals and cultural ceremonies.
One volunteer, Bryan Berlin, a high school photography teacher and comedian, was compelled to join WikiPortraits after performing in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He hopes to enhance the information available on Wikipedia and believes that updated images can significantly improve user experience.
The project boasts an impressive reach, with its photographs generating around 100 million views monthly. Many now-famous names have benefited from the initiative, which has also focused on underrepresented figures previously lacking a Wikipedia presence.
Looking ahead, WikiPortraits aspires to attract more global photographers and expand its coverage to more diverse events. The team intends to explore sports photography but has no plans to branch into video. Ultimately, they continue to dream about receiving credentials for high-profile events like the Met Gala and the Oscars, marking their milestone achievement in the quest to elevate Wikipedia's celebrity imagery.
