Whether you’re organizing a casual community stroll or planning a session during a contributor event, this guide will walk you through how to run a successful and purposeful photo walk.

Who is this guide for?

This guide is primarily intended for WordPress MeetupMeetup All local/regional gatherings that are officially a part of the WordPress world but are not WordCamps are organized through https://www.meetup.com/. A meetup is typically a chance for local WordPress users to get together and share new ideas and seek help from one another. Searching for ‘WordPress’ on meetup.com will help you find options in your area. organizers who want to host a photo walk that contributes to the WordPress Photo Directory. However, it’s also useful for:

• Photography enthusiasts who want to gather with others and contribute meaningful, open-licensed images.
• Photo table leads at WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They’re one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. Contributor Days looking for a structured way to engage new contributors in a fun, outdoor activity.

By organizing a photo walk, you can:

• Help diversify the image library with photos from your local area.
• Encourage community members to become first-time contributors to WordPress.
• Promote open media and creative commons licensing.

Every photo contributed helps make the web more inclusive, vibrant, and accessible, and a photo walk is a great way to make that contribution social and fun.

What is a Photo Walk?

A photo walk is a group activity where people gather to explore an area and take photographs together. It’s a relaxed and social way to practice photography, discover interesting details in familiar places, and share creative inspiration with others.

In the context of the WordPress Photo Directory, a photo walk is also a way to:

• Capture and contribute original, high-quality photos to the global WordPress community.
• Find unique subjects that reflect your local culture, environment, or everyday life.
• Encourage new contributors to join the open sourceOpen Source Open Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL. ecosystem through photography.

You don’t need to be a professional photographer, photo walks are open to all skill levels. Even a smartphone is enough to take great pictures and participate. Whether you’re walking through a city, a small town, or a nature trail, there’s always something worth photographing for the directory.

Planning Your Photo Walk

Organizing a photo walk doesn’t have to be complicated, a little preparation goes a long way. Here are some key steps to help you get started:

Choose a Location

Pick a place that’s visually interesting and accessible. Look for areas with a variety of textures, colors, shapes, and details, these make great photo subjects for the directory. Some ideas include:

• Urban streets, markets, public buildings
• Parks, gardens, waterfronts
• Cultural landmarks, signage, statues
• Residential neighborhoods with character

Make sure the location is:

• Easy to reach by public transport or car
• Safe for walking (consider sidewalks, lighting, and accessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility))
• Free to access and allows photography in public spaces

Pick a Date and Time

• Ideal duration: 1 to 2 hours is usually enough
• Best time of day: Early morning or late afternoon offers the best natural light 

Check the weather forecast and have a rain plan or alternate date if needed

Promote Your Walk

If you’re organizing this as a WordPress Meetup event:

• Create the event on WordPress Chapter Meetup
• Use a clear title like “Photo Walk for the WordPress Photo Directory”
• In the description, include:
  • That it’s open to all skill levels
  • The purpose (contributing to the WordPress Photo Directory)
  • What to bring (camera, phone, water, comfortable shoes)

Sample event announcement:

Other ways to promote the walk:

• Share on social media (e.g. X, Instagram)
• Post in local WordPress or photography groups
• Mention it during other WordPress events

What to Bring

Let participants know to bring:

• A camera or smartphone
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water, sunscreen, and weather-appropriate clothing
• Optional: extra batteries, memory cards, or a notebook for photo ideas

During the Photo Walk

Once everyone arrives, your role as the organizer is to welcome the group, set the tone, and provide guidance on how participants can contribute to the WordPress Photo Directory.

Start with a Brief Introduction

Take a few minutes to:

• Introduce yourself and the purpose of the walk.
• Explain what the WordPress Photo Directory is.
• Let people know that their photos will be shared under a CC0 license, meaning anyone can use them freely, even for commercial purposes.

You can optionally provide printed copies of the handouts available in the Resources section to help participants follow along and refer to submission guidelines during and after the walk.

This is also a good time to remind participants that they don’t need to be professional photographers, creativity and curiosity are more important than gear.

Share Guidelines for Photo Submissions

To help participants take usable photos for the directory, briefly share these key tips:

• Avoid identifiable people (unless you have explicit, written consent).
• Avoid trademarks, logos, license plates, and copyrighted material.
• Focus on everyday objects, textures, architecture, signage, nature, and local details.
• Take horizontal (landscape) photos when possible.
• Ensure images are well-lit and in focus.

If needed, you can reference the submission guidelines from the Photo Directory handbook.

Offer Prompts or Themes (Optional)

You can suggest a theme to help people get started, especially if the group includes beginners. Some example themes:

• Doors, windows, or signage
• Textures (wood, stone, fabric, etc.)
• Urban shapes and geometry
• Nature close-ups (leaves, trees, flowers)
• Patterns, shadows, or contrasts

Themes can spark creativity without being restrictive.

Keep It Relaxed and Supportive

Photo walks should be fun and flexible. Encourage people to:

• Go at their own pace
• Share what they’re seeing
• Ask questions or help others with framing or camera settings
• Enjoy the environment and experiment

Consider planning a midpoint meetup spot (like a bench, plaza, or café) to regroup and chat before continuing or wrapping up.

After the Photo Walk

Once the walk is over, help participants take the final step: contributing their photos to the WordPress Photo Directory. Follow-up is key to turning a fun outing into a meaningful contribution.

Remind Participants to Upload Their Photos

Not everyone will upload their photos right away, so send a follow-up message (via Meetup, email, or group chat) thanking them for joining and including clear steps to contribute:

1. Review the Photo Directory submission guidelines
   https://wordpress.org/photos/guidelines/
2. Create and verify a WordPress account at
   login.wordpress.org/register
3. Upload your photos to
   wordpress.org/photos/submit

Wait for your photos to be reviewed. You can have up to five photos at a time in the moderation queue.

Once your photos are approved, you can submit more!

Share a Sense of Completion

A few days later, consider:

• Checking in to see if anyone had questions or trouble uploading
• Sharing links to any approved photos from the group
• Highlighting favorite contributions on social media or in a recap message

This helps close the loopLoop The Loop is PHP code used by WordPress to display posts. Using The Loop, WordPress processes each post to be displayed on the current page, and formats it according to how it matches specified criteria within The Loop tags. Any HTML or PHP code in the Loop will be processed on each post. https://codex.wordpress.org/The_Loop., keeps participants engaged, and celebrates their contribution to the open web.

Optional: Group Upload Session

For WordCamps or contributor days, you might want to host a short group upload session at the end of the walk. Provide:

• Wi-Fi access
• Help with account creation and photo selection

This makes it easier for first-time contributors and ensures more photos get submitted while the experience is still fresh.

Resources

Here are some helpful tools and links to support your photo walk and guide participants through the contribution process.

Printable Handouts

You can print and share these during the walk or at the start of the event:

• Photo Walk Guide, PDF, English, A4
• Photo Walk Guide, PDF, English, letter
• Photo Walk Guide, PDF, Spanish, A4

Key WordPress Photo Directory Links

• Photo Directory homepage
• Submit a Photo
• Submission Guidelines
• Photo Directory Contributor Handbook