STRATEGY. CREATIVITY. HUMAN CONNECTION.
For nearly two decades, I have worked at the intersection of communication, storytelling and human connection, helping international organizations make complex work meaningful to the people they want to reach. My work has taken me across Africa and around the world, from classrooms and refugee settlements to boardrooms and international institutions. That experience has shaped the way I work today: start with the narrative, understand the people, then find the most powerful way to communicate it.
I SEE THE BIG PICTURE AND THE HUMAN STORY WITHIN IT.
I am both a strategist and a visual storyteller. I can sit with a leadership team and help define what an organization wants to say, why it matters and what people should remember. And I can go into the field and recognize the person, moment or image that makes that narrative real. That combination allows me to move between strategy and execution: from defining the narrative to bringing it to life through visual stories, campaigns, exhibitions, publications and creative communication.
EXPERIENCE CHANGES HOW YOU SEE.
Nearly 20 years of working across cultures, countries and complex environments have taught me that meaningful communication starts long before the camera comes out.It starts with:
Listening. Observing. Asking the right questions. Understanding context. And knowing where to look.
I approach the people whose stories I tell with empathy and dignity, while understanding the institutional realities, ethical responsibilities and communication objectives behind the assignment. I work in English, French and Italian and collaborate comfortably across cultures, disciplines and levels of an organization.
I am SSAFE trained.
HOW CAN I HELP?
An overview of how I work with organizations from communication challenges to strategic and creative solutions.
VIEW THE BROCHURE
EDUCATION.
My approach brings together three disciplines that have shaped the way I see and communicate: communication, social design and photography.
MA · SOCIAL DESIGN
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Baltimore
MA · COMMUNICATION
University of Bonn, Germany
DIPLOMA · PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Washington School of Photography, Washington, D.C.
This combination continues to inform the way I work today: strategic thinking, human-centred design and visual storytelling coming together to make complex ideas clear, relevant and engaging.
FROM STRATEGY TO REALITY.
Some organizations come to me because they need to clarify their narrative. Others need to show the human impact behind their work. Some have an idea they want to turn into a campaign, exhibition or communication concept. And others want to build the skills of their own teams to communicate more effectively from the field. Often, it is a combination of all four.
EXPERIENCE: ACROSS THE GLOBE.
20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
20+ COUNTRIES
2,200+ PROFESSIONALS TRAINED
AFRICA · CARIBBEAN · EUROPE · THE AMERICAS I have worked with United Nations agencies, development banks, international organizations, NGOs and institutions including UNESCO, WFP, UNDP, IOM, UNAIDS, UNOPS, the World Bank, IDB and IDB Invest, among others.
Based in Cameroon. Working internationally.
WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER?
Let's start there.
If you're defining a new narrative, rethinking how you communicate your impact, looking for a more human way to tell your story or searching for the right creative approach to bring an idea to life, I'd love to hear from you.
LET'S TALK → emily@emilypinnaphotography.com