A major difference between the BeachCorps model of volunteer vacation is a laser beam focus on supporting and developing great causes. Unlike other models, BeachCorps public relations outreach is focused not on ourselves, but on our partners, in particular the wonderful work of nonprofit partners. We shine, only by reflection, if they shine. The BeachCorps focus is on creating “local heroes” among Dominicans, not building the ego of volunteers (whom we love). BeachCorps volunteers are just “a little grain of sand.” Over time, BeachCorps volunteers can help build something beautiful, but only if they work to support the cause.
So BeachCorps has a “No-Selfie” rule on volunteer projects that we will ask people to help us support while you volunteer. In fact, we will ask you NOT to bring your cameras or smartphones on the trip without permission (with exceptions, see below) because we also think it’s rude (and unwise) to bring a group with a couple dozen expensive smartphones into a poor but determined community where a smartphone is a luxury.
We do encourage volunteers to help us take great photos and video. On a first come, first serve basis, we allow two people to bring their own cameras or smartphones. We provide two of our own cameras to volunteers on our projects to take photos–everyone can take a turn if they want. We of course take photos and video, too and we offer free photos and a custom-made video of your project that we encourage you to share to promote your cause–if you are convinced it’s a worthy cause after your work is done. After all, one of the most important ways you can support a cause is by testifying that it’s a cause worth supporting before your 500 Facebook friends! We do ask, however, that if you are a volunteer photographer that you conform to our rules for photography and videos:
No selfies. The photos and video should be about the cause, not the volunteers. So while our local heroes are encouraged to take great selfies with YOU in the background, please don’t take selfies while volunteering. Don’t get us wrong. BeachCorps vacations will ensure you have the right combination of relaxation, fun, learning and people-to-people engagement. We want you to cut loose and take a bunch of selfies if that’s your thing: at the pool, on the beach, on the dance floor. We’ll even have contests with rewards for the best hotel/fun photos (including selfies!) where the prize will usually be a donation to your favorite BeachCorps causes. We just ask that you don’t take selfies during the volunteer program.
Willing Subjects: Make sure people are comfortable getting their picture taken. BeachCorps will make clear as we go into a community that we will be taking pictures, but if someone seems unwilling to have their picture taken, don’t take it. A clue: anyone who is looking away or not smiling may not want their picture taken. Be very careful of taking pictures of children if their parents don’t like it.
Strike up a Conversation: Ask their names, discuss what they are selling or the work they are doing. Compliment them on their clothes or jewellery – especially if that is what has inspired you to want to take a photo. Ask for help in translating if you need it. Everyone enjoys a bit of flattery and human interaction. Even without a common language, gestures can go a long way!
Ask Permission: Once you have engaged with people, ask for permission to take their photo. If they say no, thank them for their time. And if they agree – well, you have a nice little background story and a name to go in the online album. For all the educational organizations that BeachCorps supports, we’ll ask our partners to get signed consent forms from parents to allow their children to be included in pictures.
Never Pay for Photos: On BeachCorps projects, there is no situation where you should pay for a photo. We are trying to fight a culture of dependency, not add to it. Of course, there are businesses where paying for a photo is appropriate, like the guy on a beach with a parrot or monkey who gets paid for letting you hold his animal (which we hope is being treated well, though often that’s not the case). But that should not happen in a volunteer project.
Pay for Something You Like: If you do want to give something in return, it’s polite to purchase something from craftspeople or traders. Don’t take pictures of someone’s artwork without their permission. That’s just rude. A minor intellectual property violation. Plus, one of the ways you can support a community is to pay for a service or product that you actually want.
Offer to Send an E-Version of the Photo: Another nice gesture is to offer to send them an e-version of the photo. In the Dominican Republic, most people are on WhatsApp or other online platforms that allow you to share a photo, or they have a friend or family member who can receive a photo. Take their phone number – but only do this if you are sure you plan to follow up. You can also give BeachCorps the phone number and photo so we can share the photo.
Be Discrete and Secure: Don’t flaunt your expensive electronics like jewelry. You may not want to bring a $2,000 camera into a community where that’s 6 months of earnings. Similarly, you may want to put that smartphone away when you’re not using it (preferably in pocket with a button or your front pocket of your pants) and actually engage someone in a conversation. Just be aware that your camera or smartphone may represent a major difference between you and the people you are engaging. That’s another reason why BeachCorps doesn’t want each volunteer to bring a smartphone: a crowd of tourists with 20 smartphones could be an enticing target for robbers!
As we said, BeachCorps volunteers can contribute to worthy causes in three ways: their time, their donation to the cause, and their social media connections. BeachCorps hopes you will donate generously to your cause in all three areas. In terms of your social media connections, if you like the cause you supported, please, please, please share photos of the cause on all the social media platforms you can. We don’t charge for photos and the videos we prepare, unlike other tourism models that will charge outrageous prices for their photos.
.
So remember: Keep the selfies for the pool, beach or disco! And share them with us!
#ResponsiblePhotography #SustainableTourism #Selfie #NoSelfies #ProtectingChildren #TravelDeep #ImpactTravel #ServiceTravel
