Wikipedia, a titan in the realm of online knowledge, boasts billions of visits each month. Yet, even its devoted volunteer editors are quick to acknowledge a glaring issue—abysmal images, especially when it comes to portraits of celebrities. It's not uncommon for notable individuals in Wikipedia entries to have outdated or unflattering photographs that leave much to be desired. In fact, there are dedicated Instagram accounts solely focused on showcasing the most cringe-worthy of these images.

The overarching challenge stems from the fact that professional photographers, who typically capture celebrities at high-profile events like film premieres, often work for agencies and retain copyright over their images. Given that Wikipedia primarily operates on a volunteer basis, it lacks the financial resources to pay for quality images.

To combat this problem, an initiative called WikiPortraits has emerged. This project aims to gather a coalition of volunteer photographers worldwide, enabling them to secure accreditation for film festivals, conferences, and other prominent events. Kevin Payravi, a co-founder of WikiPortraits, expressed the sentiment shared by many Wikipedia editors: "Wikipedia has for the longest time had missing or poor quality photos of people."

At a recent SXSW festival in Austin, Texass, Payravi and fellow founder Jennifer Lee showcased their project, complete with a photo booth designed to capture high-quality portraits. "Some users are genuinely bothered by the low-quality images on Wikipedia and want to rectify the situation," noted Lee. "The hilarious bad photos are definitely a conversation starter, showcasing some truly bizarre representations of individuals."

Under Wikipedia's stringent rules regarding photography and copyright, any images uploaded to the platform must either belong to the contributor, be freely licensed, or reside in the public domain. Consequently, many of the images currently featured are contributed by amateurs rather than seasoned photographers. While some of these images might simply be forgettable, others are shockingly poor representations of the subjects.

A case in point is the infamous portrait of comedian Emil Wakim from Saturday Night Live, which was featured on his Wikipedia page for a week last November. Upon its removal, one editor remarked that "having no picture is better than what's currently there." Additionally, an outdated image of English footballer Kyle Bartley from 2011 has drawn criticism on social media, underscoring the necessity for a revitalization of Wikipedia's visual content.

Launched in early 2024, WikiPortraits has assembled a dedicated team of photographers, the majority of whom hail from the U.S. yet come from various countries. While these volunteers are not compensated, many are passionate about Wikipedia, photography enthusiasts, or professionals eager to enhance their portfolios. The project has managed to engage 55 photographers so far, with more committing to contribute.

Notably, Bryan Berlin, a high school photography teacher and stand-up comedian from New York, found his way to WikiPortraits while performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He has since attended prestigious events like the New York Film Festival and Sundance, capturing moments with stars such as Kieran Culkin and Mikey Madison. Berlin emphasizes that his motivation stems from a desire to improve Wikipedia: "Having a better photo of someone provides superior information for users accessing Wikipedia."

As WikiPortraits continues to evolve, it represents an exciting step forward in enhancing the visual appeal and accuracy of one of the world’s most relied-upon information sources—making Wikipedia a more vibrant reflection of the people it portrays. Stay tuned as these dedicated volunteers change the face of Wikipedia, one snapshot at a time!