Terms of Reference – Photographer

For more than a decade, Sight and Life (SAL) has been at the forefront of shaping the global Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) movement. To guide decision making, implementation, and adoption of MMS globally, SAL has produced two special reports on MMS, compiling the latest evidence, experiences from the field and resources for scale-up. The first edition of “Focusing on Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) in Pregnancy” (2020) laid out the scientific evidence for MMS policy advocacy and adoption. Three years later, the second edition showcased growing global momentum for MMS uptake (2023).

 

Building on the previous editions of the MMS Special Report, the 3rd edition, “Leading the Way: Country Exemplars in Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation During Pregnancy” aims to highlight how countries are moving beyond early adoption toward deeper institutionalization within country systems.

 

The report will examine areas including government leadership and ownership, integration of MMS into antenatal care, implementation at scale, sustainable financing, health-worker and community engagement, and the experiences of women receiving MMS. The approximately 120–150-page publication, comprising approximately 25 articles, will combine evidence, country experiences, interviews, profiles and human-interest stories.

High-quality documentary photography will be central to bringing these stories to life.

Sight and Life seeks experienced documentary and editorial photographers based in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Nigeria, to produce compelling, authentic and high-quality photography for the MMS Special Report 3.0.

 

SAL intends to commission one local photographer in each country, with all photographers working from: this common Terms of Reference; a common MMS Special Report photography and visual brief; country-specific editorial briefs and shot lists; and agreed schedules developed with SAL and local partners.

 

The photography should document the people, experiences, systems and environments shaping MMS implementation, while ensuring consistency in visual quality and storytelling across all four countries.

 

The photographs will primarily support the MMS Special Report 3.0 but may also be used across Sight and Life’s wider communications, knowledge-sharing and advocacy platforms in accordance with the agreed usage rights.

The photography assignment aims to:

1. Create a strong and coherent visual narrative across the MMS Special Report.
2. Document the experiences of pregnant women, families, health workers, policymakers, programme implementers and other actors contributing to MMS implementation.
3. Illustrate how MMS is integrated into antenatal care services, health systems, communities and national programmes.
4. Produce strong editorial portraits and documentary images that complement the report’s articles and human-interest stories.
5. Capture the broader social, community and health-system contexts in which MMS programmes operate.
6. Build a high-quality image library that can support the Special Report and related SAL communications and advocacy.

The photographer will be expected to undertake the following activities.

 

5.1 Preparation and Planning

• Participate in an initial briefing with Sight and Life and relevant country partners.
• Review the Special Report editorial brief, visual brief and country-specific photography requirements.
• Familiarise themselves with the MMS programme context and the stories being documented in their assigned country.
• Work with SAL and designated country partners to develop a realistic photography schedule covering agreed locations, subjects and activities.
• Advise SAL on logistical or visual considerations that may affect the assignment.
• Identify opportunities for strong visual storytelling beyond the minimum shot list where appropriate.

 

6. Photography Requirements

 

Photography should combine documentary storytelling, environmental portraiture, editorial portraits, contextual imagery and detail photography.

Photographers should capture a range of perspectives and compositions that allow the design team to build complete visual stories.

 

6.1 Women and Families

 

Where relevant to the country story, photography may include:

• women who took MMS during pregnancy with their healthy infants or young children;
• pregnant women receiving or using MMS;
• women attending antenatal care services;
• women interacting with health workers;
• women in their homes or communities; family and household contexts;
• portraits of women whose experiences are featured in the Special Report;
• and everyday moments that provide context to maternal health and nutrition.

 

Photography must portray women with dignity, agency and authenticity.

 

6.2 Health Workers and Antenatal Care

 

Photography may include:

• nurses, midwives, doctors, community health workers and other frontline providers;
• health-worker counselling;
• interactions between providers and pregnant women; delivery or dispensing of MMS;
• antenatal care consultations where appropriate and consented;
• training and capacity-building activities; health facilities and service-delivery environments; and
• portraits of health workers featured in the report.

 

6.3 MMS Implementation and Health Systems

 

Where relevant, photographers should document elements such as:

• MMS distribution and delivery;
• programme implementation;
• supply and storage systems;
• programme training;
• community engagement; monitoring or implementation activities;
• integration of MMS within antenatal care;
• relevant health-system processes; and
• collaboration between government, implementing partners and communities.

 

6.4 Government, Partners and Programme Leaders

 

Where relevant to the editorial plan, photography may include:

• government officials;
• national and sub-national programme leaders;
• researchers; implementing partners;
• technical experts; health-system leaders; and
• individuals whose interviews or perspectives feature prominently in the Special Report.

 

6.5 Context and Sense of Place

 

Each country assignment should also provide sufficient contextual imagery to establish a clear sense of place.

This may include communities; neighbourhoods; health facilities; landscapes; transport; markets; streets; local architecture; waiting areas and health-service environments; and other relevant contextual details.

 

6.6 Detail and Supporting Images

 

Photographers should capture visual details that can support publication design, including where appropriate:

• MMS bottles, blister packs, tablets or packaging;
• hands and interactions;
• health education and counselling materials;
• facility signage; programme materials;
• relevant clinical or administrative tools,
• where confidentiality is protected; and
• close-up details that contribute to visual storytelling.

Photographers should not rely primarily on product imagery. Images should demonstrate how MMS relates to people, services and systems.

 

7. Visual and Editorial Approach

 

Photography should be human-centred, authentic and observational; respectful and dignified; visually engaging; editorial in quality; culturally sensitive; contemporary; naturally composed wherever possible; and grounded in the everyday realities of women, communities and health systems.

Photographers should prioritise authentic interactions over heavily staged scenes.

Images should avoid:

• stereotypes of poverty or vulnerability;
• imagery that removes agency from women or communities;
• unnecessarily distressing or intrusive clinical imagery;
• excessive staging;
• generic conference-style photography where stronger editorial images are possible; and
• images that could compromise patient dignity or confidentiality.

 

Photographers should capture sufficient variation within each setting, including:

• wide establishing shots;
• medium shots;
• close-up details;
• candid interactions;
• formal and environmental portraits;
• portrait orientation;
• landscape orientation; and
• compositions with appropriate negative space for editorial layout and text placement.

 

Particular attention should be given to producing potential front cover, chapter opener and full-page feature images.

 

8. Country-Specific Photography Brief and Shot List

 

A detailed shot list will be developed for each country once the Special Report’s editorial stories and locations have been confirmed.

 

The country brief will identify:

• articles or stories requiring photography;
• key people to photograph; priority locations; programme activities to document;
• mandatory images; potential cover or hero-photo opportunities;
• scheduled interviews or human-interest stories; required contextual imagery; and
• any country-specific sensitivities or permissions.

 

The shot list will guide the assignment but should not prevent photographers from identifying additional compelling moments and images that support the Special Report narrative.

 

9. Expected Level of Effort

 

The anticipated photography assignment is approximately 2–4 shooting days per country, excluding preparation, travel and post-production.

 

The final number of days will depend on number of locations, geographic distance between locations, number of featured stories, availability of subjects, programme schedules, and country-specific logistics.

 

10. Deliverables

 

The photographer will provide a professionally edited and curated image package from the assignment.

 

Indicative deliverables per country are:

 

10.1 Edited Photography

 

Approximately 60–100 professionally edited images, or another quantity agreed in the country-specific brief, representing sufficient diversity across the required stories, subjects and locations.

 

Images should include:

• a strong selection of documentary images;
• environmental and editorial portraits;
• contextual photographs;
• close-up/detail photography;
• portrait and landscape formats; and
• images suitable for full-page and double-page editorial layouts.

 

10.2 Priority/Hero Selection

 

The photographer should identify approximately 10–15 particularly strong images considered suitable for:

• Special Report cover consideration;
• chapter opening pages;
• full-page spreads;
• major feature stories; and
• external communications and promotion.

 

10.3 Key Subject Portraits

 

Strong portraits should be provided for all principal individuals featured in relevant Special Report stories, where these individuals are available during the assignment.

 

Where practical, photographers should provide both environmental portraits and editorial portrait options.

 

10.4 File Versions

 

Final selected photographs should be delivered as:

• full-resolution files suitable for professional print publication; and
• optimised digital versions suitable for web, presentation and social-media use.

 

Unless otherwise agreed, final images should be delivered in high-quality JPEG format.

 

RAW files will not automatically be required, unless specifically agreed with the photographer as part of the contract.

 

11. Technical Specifications

 

Final print photographs should:

• be supplied at the highest available native resolution;
• be suitable for high-quality print reproduction at approximately 300 dpi at intended publication size;
• contain no watermarks;
• be appropriately exposed and colour corrected;
• retain natural skin tones; avoid excessive digital manipulation;
• contain accurate embedded metadata where possible; and
• be delivered through an agreed secure digital file-transfer platform.

 

Artificial intelligence should not be used to generate, materially alter or fabricate documentary content within submitted photographs.

 

Any substantial retouching or compositing must be disclosed to SAL and approved before publication.

 

12. Captioning and Metadata

 

Accurate captioning is essential.

 

For each final photograph, the photographer should provide, where applicable:

• full name of identifiable subject(s);
• role/title where relevant; organisation where relevant;
• location – city/region, country;
• date photograph was taken;
• description of the activity or scene;
• relevant MMS programme or initiative; and
• photographer credit.

 

The photographer should verify names and spellings wherever possible.

 

Photographers must not include confidential medical information in captions or metadata.

 

13. Consent, Ethics and Safeguarding

 

Photography will involve pregnant women, health workers, health facilities and potentially other individuals or groups requiring particular sensitivity.

 

All photography must comply with Sight and Life’s ethical, safeguarding and consent requirements.

 

Photographers must:

• confirm that appropriate consent has been obtained before photographing identifiable individuals;
• respect an individual’s right to decline photography or withdraw from a photography activity;
• avoid photographing sensitive consultations, examinations or clinical procedures unless specifically authorised and explicit informed consent has been obtained;
• always protect patient confidentiality; avoid photographing confidential medical records or personally identifiable health information;
• ensure that photographs portray subjects with dignity and respect;
• follow additional safeguarding procedures where children or individuals under 18 may appear in identifiable photography; and
• immediately raise any ethical, safeguarding or consent concerns with the designated SAL representative.

 

Sight and Life and/or its designated country partners will facilitate access to programme locations and will support the formal consent process for scheduled subjects.

 

However, the photographer retains responsibility for ensuring that they do not knowingly photograph an identifiable subject for publication where the required consent has not been confirmed.

 

No individual should be pressured to participate in photography.

 

14. Sight and Life Responsibilities

 

Sight and Life, working with relevant country and implementing partners, will:

• provide the photographer with the Special Report photography brief;
• provide country-specific story and shot requirements;
• identify priority locations and subjects;
• facilitate introductions to relevant implementing partners and stakeholders;
• coordinate or support access to health facilities and programme activities;
• support the scheduling of featured individuals;
• provide or coordinate appropriate informed-consent processes;
• brief the photographer on safeguarding, ethical and cultural considerations;
• provide a principal contact person for the assignment;
• provide timely feedback on submitted photography; and
• communicate any changes to the editorial or production schedule.

 

Arrangements concerning local transport, accommodation and other logistical support will be agreed separately for each country assignment.

 

15. Photographer Responsibilities

 

The photographer will be responsible for:

• professional photographic equipment required for the assignment;
• backup equipment appropriate to the assignment;
• adequate digital storage and image backup;
• professional editing and post-production; safe storage of image files until final delivery and acceptance;
• compliance with agreed consent and safeguarding procedures;
• maintaining confidentiality regarding unpublished Special Report content;
• providing accurate captions and image metadata;
• meeting all agreed deadlines; and
• promptly informing SAL of any issue likely to affect delivery.

 

16. Copyright and Usage Rights

 

The final contractual arrangement regarding copyright and licensing will be confirmed with the selected photographer.

 

At minimum, Sight and Life requires a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce, publish, crop, resize, adapt and distribute the commissioned final photographs for non-commercial organisational purposes.

This may include use in:

• MMS Special Report 3.0;
• other Sight and Life publications and reports;
• Sight and Life’s website; social-media platforms;<
• newsletters, presentations, events, exhibitions, advocacy and communications materials, media outreach, and other digital and print communications.

 

The agreement should also clarify whether photographs may be shared with and reused by programme partners, funders and collaborating organisations for purposes related to the MMS programme.

 

Photographer credit will be provided where appropriate and practicable.

 

The photographer must warrant that they have the authority to grant the agreed rights and that the photographs supplied do not knowingly infringe third-party intellectual-property rights.

 

17. Timeline

 

The overall photography process is expected to take place between October and November 2026

 

An indicative schedule is:

• Photographer selection and contracting: September 25th – 30th
• Photography assignments: October 5th
• Initial edited image submission: Within 5–7 working days of completion of photography
• SAL review and image selection: Within 3–5 working days of submission
• Final high-resolution delivery: No later than 30th November 2026

 

Photographers should identify any potential scheduling limitations or conflicts in their proposal.

 

18. Required Photographer Profile

 

The assignment requires experienced photographers with a strong portfolio in documentary and editorial photography.

 

Applicants should demonstrate:

• professional photography experience;
• a strong documentary/editorial portfolio;
• proven ability to photograph people sensitively and authentically;
• strong portraiture skills;
• experience working in health, development, social-impact or humanitarian contexts, where possible;
• experience photographing within communities and/or health facilities;
• ability to work professionally and unobtrusively in sensitive environments;
• strong visual storytelling skills;
• professional image-editing and post-production skills;
• ability to provide accurate captions and metadata;
• understanding of informed consent, dignity and ethical representation;
• ability to deliver high-resolution images suitable for international print publication; and
• availability to complete the assignment within the required timeframe.

 

Photographers based in and familiar with the relevant country will be strongly preferred.

 

Knowledge of relevant local languages is desirable.

 

19.  Application Requirements

 

Interested photographers should submit:

• Portfolio demonstrating relevant documentary, editorial and portrait photography.
• Brief statement of approach explaining how they would approach the assignment and visual storytelling.
• Relevant experience, particularly in health, nutrition, development, community or social-impact photography.
• Current location/base and geographic areas they are able to cover.
• Availability during the proposed photography period.
• Financial proposal, clearly indicating:
  • professional/day rate;
  • post-production/editing costs;
  • local travel costs where relevant;
  • equipment or production costs where applicable.
• References or examples of comparable previous commissions.

 

Kindly submit your application to Rebecca Brooks –rebecca.brooks@sightandlife.org

 

20. Selection Criteria

 

Photographers will be assessed based on:

• quality and relevance of portfolio;
• strength of documentary and editorial photography;
• ability to capture authentic human stories;
• relevant country and sector experience;
• understanding of ethical and sensitive photography;
• proposed approach;
• availability and ability to meet the production timeline; and
• value for money.

 

21. Confidentiality

 

The photographer may receive unpublished editorial material, programme information and access to individuals or environments that are not public.

 

All unpublished information shared in connection with the assignment should be treated as confidential unless Sight and Life provides permission for disclosure.

 

Photographers should not publish, sell, license or post commissioned images on their own websites, portfolios or social-media channels.

 

Any subsequent portfolio use should comply with the agreed contract, consent conditions and confidentiality requirements.

 

22. Queries and Submission

 

Questions regarding this Terms of Reference or requests for clarification may be directed to:

• Rebecca Brooks – rebecca.brooks@sightandlife.org
• Samuel Ayooluwa Okunjolu – ayooluwa.okunjolu@sightandlife.org

 

Application/submission deadline: September 25th