Every issue of We See begins with conversations—among team members, partners, workshop participants, and contributors. What stories are missing? What perspectives need more space? Which voices are being overlooked?

As a publication dedicated to documentary photography by women and underrepresented voices, We See is built through collaboration, care, and intention. In this post, we take you behind the scenes of how an issue comes together—from story curation to design, translation, and layout.

How Do We Choose Themes and Stories?

Each issue reflects the work we’ve done that year, the people we’ve met, and the questions we’re thinking about. We draw from our own workshops, international projects, and the contributions of photographers and grassroots organisations around the world.

Sometimes themes emerge from a particular collaboration—like Issue 9, which featured stories from women living in Afghanistan, or Issues 8 and 10, which included special contributions from partners in the Welens project, highlighting on-the-ground work challenging gender inequality and violence.

Giving Space to Emerging Voices

Many of the women we publish are sharing their work publicly for the first time. For some, it’s their first experience being printed in a magazine. We See offers a platform to be seen, read, and taken seriously—without needing formal credentials or access to traditional publishing networks.

We prioritise thoughtful storytelling and lived experience. Contributors are supported in finalising their work—through captioning, sequencing, or editing guidance if needed—so that each story arrives on the page fully formed, and fully theirs.

The Role of Design

Design plays a crucial role in how we present each story. We aim for layouts that feel calm, clear, and visually rich, giving photographs room to breathe and words space to land. Each issue includes:

  • An editorial that sets the tone and introduces the themes

  • A featured photographer and interview

  • Documentary photo essays by women from around the world

  • Reflections from partners, participants, and collaborators

We try to balance strong visual storytelling with thoughtful, engaging texts. The design work is done in-house, and yes—it often involves long hours and many revisions to make sure each page feels just right.

What’s Challenging (and What Keeps Us Going)

Creating an annual, multi-voiced publication with limited resources is never simple. There’s writing, editing, coordination across countries and time zones—and, always, the challenge of doing justice to the stories we’ve been trusted with.

But the result is worth it: a printed object that brings together lived experience, creative vision, and global solidarity. One that can be held, read, and shared offline—where so many of our communities still are.

Want to Support or Collaborate?

We’re always looking for people who can help us:

  • Distribute We See in libraries, classrooms, community centres

  • Suggest photographers or stories we should feature

  • Organise zine tables or exhibitions using past issues

Get in touch with us if you’d like to help amplify the magazine or support its continued publication.

Thanks for reading—and thank you to all the women whose stories, images, and trust make We See possible.