SASKIA KEELEY
My work as documentary photographer brings me into contact with people who confront issues such as lack of access to services and opportunities to denial of their human dignity. I use my skills as a counselor, photographer, and workshop leader to enable people from marginalized communities to see themselves, the world they live in, and their opportunity to enact changes to improve their lives, for themselves and others.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bb4a15dabfb1a1b277136a30cbf0b30c6ba14e4f1665c3acf129c413a2aa6c27/s-with-class.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9b91f53743b66a7fb781fb7a093cb187e4a35f32854bfc06a7dd0ceb884230c2/PICO-_-DSC03355.jpeg)
THE ACCOMPAGNATEUR WORKSHOPS AND I AM YOUR PROTECTOR CO-CREATED A WORKSHOP AT PICO UNION PROJECT, LOS ANGELES
My work as documentary photographer brings me into contact with people who confront issues such as lack of access to services and opportunities to denial of their human dignity. I use my skills as a counselor, photographer, and workshop leader to enable people from marginalized communities to see themselves, the world they live in, and their opportunity to enact changes to improve their lives, for themselves and others.
STORYTELLING
Participants hold the portrait they’ve taken of their partner in front of them and tell their story, in their words. By sharing our stories, we learn that we all have more in common than we may think. We share the same concerns about our families and our place in the world. We have all suffered traumas. The first step of opening up to strangers and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable is of profound importance.
“The camera is a tool that enables people to see without the camera.”—Dorothea Lange
“The camera teaches us to see ourselves.”—Saskia Keeley
![“This reflects I am comfortable, but in my mind I know this is a transition. The stairs show that I am going somewhere.”—Umar, Pico Union Workshop participant](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/343905bda1016e964987bb422edf98e4e15521feb2b17ffc97ba63f98b2dee6f/saskia-keeley-photography-humanitarian-photojournalism-documentarian-pico-union-project-i-am-your-protector-accompagnateur-workshop-2.png)
![“Through this photographic experience, we were taught to find as many parts of the human experience in a partner we worked with for the entirety of the workshop. And this experience of humanity (which, I might add, the world needs far more of today) came with certain challenges. As they arose, Saskia provided her loving self to help the class focus through the lenses we were being taught to use, and through her kind words, her support and patience.”—David Seck, Pico Union Workshop](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0f3cb3aba80b7903675160aa0914ce4feffba5ce5f44c97c3f363486813d2803/Untitled-2.jpg)
![I meet each participant at their own level of skill and comfort with the digital camera.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/42549f37664228d9dca579803c8ae3d25d03f58748c0bee1e476ffaca7f824fa/saskia-keeley-photography-humanitarian-photojournalism-documentarian-pico-union-project-i-am-your-protector-accompagnateur-workshop-4-copy.png)
![The combination of photographing one another and being open to sharing information about oneself is powerful.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3218324083ddbe956562c2515eb3183a064e87ef748661482d4c88b335e2023f/unnamed-5.jpg)
![I create a safe space for open and substantive dialogue among diverse communities using the camera as a unifying tool.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bcc25d89a986b4b3de7dfb71d6fabd7810757f75eb16609d90a51e15e96244ae/saskia-keeley-photography-humanitarian-photojournalism-documentarian-pico-union-project-i-am-your-protector-accompagnateur-workshop-5-copy.png)
![“During our week with Saskia and 16 people from diverse cultures and faiths at the Pico Union Project, all of the planning and conversations could never have captured the essence of this truly wonderful artist, and the remarkable way she is able to bring out the humanity of others.”—Craig Taubman, Founder, Pico Union Project](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6d9de039602711ae43e8fe73168d26e0dd96dadefbc2beb30a11813271cc59fe/unnamed-4.jpg)