The Volunteer Photographer Program is a community outreach project of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s Archive. The mission of the program is to provide documentation of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell for the Foundation Archive. The Festival is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course at 1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA. 

This documentation goes beyond the stages and music to include the “internal culture” of Jazz Fest- the food, art, culture, and people who attend the festival. These other aspects are crucial in making Jazz Fest an annual success. 

The program joins photographers, from a variety of backgrounds, with the Festival and Archive to provide the unique experience of photographing the world-renowned New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Volunteer Photographers must be at least 18 years of age.

Festival Dates: April 24-27 and May 1-4, 2025

NEW NOTE: There is a meeting for photographers on the day before the festival starts. You must attend this meeting to get your photo pit passes and tickets.

Position Description & Requirements

Volunteer Photographers must be able to manage and edit hundreds or even thousands of digital images and understand that the work of photographing the Jazz Fest is physically demanding. Photographers often walk many miles a day around the Fair Grounds Race Course and are responsible for their own photography gear. There can often be a variety of weather conditions - rain (lots of mud) or shine (lots of dust) and in potentially *very* hot weather.
 
Selected volunteer photographers are responsible for providing the Archive with the images taken at the festival. Without all submissions there will be a historical gap in the documentation of the 2025 festival. Any photographer who does not submit their images will not be in good standing with the Foundation.

No more than 150 applications can be accepted. 

Applicants will be notified by the end of January 2025.

Application Requirements

Must be 18 years or older.

Eligibility Criteria

The program is open to:

• Student photographers
• Amateur photographers
• Professional photographers