New Orleans Jazz Fest Volunteer Photographer Program

The Volunteer Photographer Program is a community outreach project of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation's Archive. The program provides 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, on April 25-28 and May 2-5, 2019.

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. Documentation includes the stages and music as well as the "internal culture" of Jazz Fest—the food, art, culture and people who attend the festival. Volunteer Photographers must be at least 18 years of age. There is a mandatory meeting for photographers the day before the festival starts to receive photo pit passes and tickets.

Volunteer Photographers must be able to manage and edit hundreds or even thousands of digital images. The work is physically demanding, requiring photographers to walk many miles a day around the Fair Grounds Race Course while managing their own photography gear. Weather conditions vary and can include rain, mud, dust, and very hot temperatures. Selected volunteer photographers are responsible for providing all images taken at the festival to the Archive. No more than 150 applications can be accepted. Applicants must submit 6 images as work samples.