Beyond image and voice: Navigating the tensions of photovoice in participatory research

Photovoice is a powerful method for community engagement and centering marginalized perspectives. It can empower participants to share their stories on their terms and contribute to processes of social change. Yet, it is not without its tensions. Drawing on our experience implementing photovoice projects in four countries across diverse topics and participant groups, and engaging with ongoing methodological debates, we identify six recurring tensions inherent in photovoice research: participation versus performance; community versus conflict; expression versus representation; advocacy versus analysis; empowerment versus extraction; and local voices versus structural change. We discuss the challenges that emerge from each tension and outline strategies that helped us navigate them in practice. Far from dismissing the method, we argue that these tensions can be productive and call for a frank and practice-oriented methodological debate.