Amateur Photographers Revitalize Wikipedia's Celebrity Images

Volunteer-driven project WikiPortraits is tackling the issue of poor quality celebrity photographs on Wikipedia, recruiting amateur and professional photographers to improve the representation of notable individuals with fresh images.

Wikipedia, one of the internet's busiest platforms, is running into a significant visual dilemma: outdated and unflattering images of its featured celebrities. Recognizing this issue, a group of enthusiasts has initiated WikiPortraits, a project designed to enlist volunteer photographers to enhance Wikipedia's visual representation. "For a long time, Wikipedia has struggled with inadequate photographs of notable personalities,” explained Kevin Payravi, one of the co-founders. Alongside Jennifer Lee, Payravi is gathering photographers from around the world, providing them with credentials to attend events where they can capture fresh images of celebrities attending film festivals and conferences.

The current landscape of celebrity images on Wikipedia is disheartening, filled with outdated and often unflattering representations. There are even social media accounts dedicated to showcasing some of the worst examples. For instance, comedian Emil Wakim's Wikipedia image was deemed so poor that it was removed, with editors remarking that "having no picture is better than what was currently displayed." The same critiques apply to athletes like Kyle Bartley, whose outdated image has attracted derision online.

WikiPortraits began its mission in early 2024, relying solely on volunteers, many of whom are photography enthusiasts hoping to improve Wikipedia's offerings. Currently, over 55 photographers have contributed, capturing images at prominent events such as the Sundance Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. Bryan Berlin, a high school photography teacher and stand-up comedian, noted that participating in this initiative helps him grow as a photographer while enriching Wikipedia with valuable visual content.

Among the notable personalities benefiting from the project are actors Elijah Wood and Florence Pugh, who now sport updated images on their Wikipedia pages. Enthusiastic feedback has poured in, with some celebrities expressing their excitement to finally have a more flattering representation of themselves online.

Looking ahead, the WikiPortraits team aims to expand its network of photographers to cover events globally, with aspirations to secure credentials for high-profile events like the Met Gala and the Oscars. As this growing initiative gains momentum, it strives to ensure that Wikipedia can offer a more accurate and visually appealing portrayal of the figures who shape our culture.