As a photographer, I think it's important to think about how you can give back. This applies whether you are a hobbyist, keen enthusiast, part-time, professional, or some other type of photographer. This can take many forms and shapes, and I've mentioned some of them below.

• Donating Photos or Services to Charities and Non-Profits
  I will normally let charities and non-profit organisations use my photos at no cost, with an appropriate credit, providing they ask for permission, and they agree to my terms and conditions.
  If they're not making money from the use of my photo, then I can't expect them to pay for the photo. Conversely, if any commercial organisation contacts me for the use of any of my photos, then I expect to be paid for the use of the photo.
  
  
• Donating Photos or Services to Government Organisations
  The same reasoning as above applies.
  Here's an example of one of my photos being used by the Australian Department of Environment and Conservation.
  
  
• Releasing Photos under GPL / CC licenses or other similar licenses
  You can upload photos to flickr.com, Wikipedia and various other repositories using GPL and Creative Commons licenses. These licenses allow people to use your photos for free, providing they adhere to the restrictions of the licenses.
  You can choose how loose or restrictive a license you want to release your photos under.
  
  
• Contributing Photos to Wikipedia and Similar Repositories
  When I first started getting into photography, I was often frustrated at the poor quality of many of the photos in Wikipedia articles, so I have made it a point to contribute better-quality photos to Wikipedia articles where I could.
  This could be a matter of pulling appropriate photos from your archives, or it could mean going out of your way to specifically take photos of places, animals or things specifically where you've noticed they are lacking.
  Have a look at at Wikipedia articles for places you're familiar with, animals you have as pets, cars, your cameras, or any other things that you may have photos of or could take photos of - and you might be surprised at the wide range of articles that could do with better photos.
  
  
• Sharing Photography Resources Online
  Share photography-related information, tutorials, how-tos, and other information online via a blog, videos or via some other means.
  I have been publishing a series of blog posts titled Understanding Your Camera that I have been writing as I teach camera basics and camera operation to my children.
  
  
• Sharing Your Knowledge at a Photography Club and/or with a Group of Friends
  Join a photography club and share your photography skills and knowledge, get involved at your local school and teach the children photography skills, or go out shooting with some friends and help each other improve your and their photography skills.
  I try to regularly go on photowalks with friends, as it gives us an opportunity to get out and take photos, share ideas, tips and tricks, see other people's compositions, and learn other things from each other (as well as socialise and have fun).

Over the years, I've released a number of photos on Wikipedia under Creative Commons licenses. One of the photos that has been widely used is one of my youngest daughter as a new-born, who was quite jaundiced when she was born, and had to spend some time under lights during her first few days in hospital.

Samantha undergoing phototherapy to treat her jaundice

Canon EOS 350D, 17-85mm IS @70mm, 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO400

I took the photo in February 2007, and posted on Wikipedia in February 2008 under a CC BY 3.0 Creative Commons license, which allows anyone to use the image (including commercially) as long as they credit myself as the photographer.
The photo has been used on the english Wikipedia pages for light therapy and neonatal jaundice, as well as many Wikipedia pages in other languages.

A google image search for the photo shows it is also being used by many medical journals and articles, and is even being used on the cover of a book. They are all valid uses of the photo - as long as the conditions of the CC license are being met (appropriate attribution).

My daughter featured in the photo above is now aged 10, and is quite proud of the fact that the photo of her is being used so widely!



What about you? How do you give back?
What other ways of giving back can photographers consider?