In brief
WikiPortraits, a project started by photography enthusiasts, seeks to improve Wikipedia's quality by providing better images of notable personalities, aiming to capture events like film festivals and awards shows.
Amateur photographers are on a mission to transform Wikipedia's outdated and often unflattering celebrity photos. Meet WikiPortraits, a project designed to recruit volunteers who can attend events and capture new images. Wikipedia is immensely popular but suffers from a notable issue: many of its celebrity photos are old, low-quality, or just plain bad! Kevin Payravi and Jennifer Lee, the founders of WikiPortraits, started the initiative in early 2024, assembling a team of volunteers who share a passion for photography and Wikipedia. As they navigate major events like the Sundance Film Festival, their goal is to gather high-quality portraits to replace the current disappointing ones. The initiative also highlights the fun and sometimes humorous aspect of poor Wikipedia images, including cringe-worthy examples like comedian Emil Wakim's infamous photo. Volunteers have already contributed to the project, and some celebrities are excited for the upgrades. Bryan Berlin, a teacher and up-and-coming photographer, describes the importance of quality images in enhancing the Wikipedia experience. The project has already attracted coverage from international events, bringing attention to underrepresented filmmakers as well. With ambitious plans for coverage at the Met Gala and Oscars, WikiPortraits is poised to bring Wikipedia's visual representation into the 21st century, one iconic shot at a time!
