Interviews and focus groups are commonly used for getting people’s views in research. But what if, instead of words, we used photographs to convey our thoughts and tell a story? That was the idea behind our recently concluded SPHR research where we used photography to encourage young people to reflect on the Government’s calorie labelling policy for food bought outside of our homes, and generally how, where and why they make the food choices that they do.
We worked with nine young people aged 14–16 years, engaging them in group discussions and a guided walk equipped with cameras through their local high street. We asked them to reflect on how and where calories are shown on food menus, how this resonates with them and what changes they would like to see in their local food environment. During the walk, they took many photographs that illustrated their often strongly held views on the local food offer. Later, they selected photographs to lead the group discussions, and wrote captions to tell their stories which would be shown alongside their photos in an exhibition.
Photo exhibition
On 4th February, a broad mix of over 50 people attended the exhibition at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). This included participants and their families, our community partners from the Sir Hubert von Herkomer Arts Foundation (HvH Arts) and local residents, national and local policy makers from the Department of Health and Social Care, Camden and Islington Councils, and representatives from food charities, including the Food Foundation , Sustain, BiteBack, and Food Matters, and academic colleagues.
The photos and accompanying captions were displayed on large poster boards, with the exhibition layout designed to encourage a natural flow, allowing attendees to engage at their own pace and interact with one another. We encouraged attendees to share their thoughts using the feedback forms placed throughout the space. We also engaged a visual scribe to capture key conversations and discussions, see infographic below:
View this infographic as a PDF
The event was opened by Laura Cornelsen, who provided an overview of the research, followed by Dalya Marks, who explained how we used the photovoice approach. This was followed by a Q&A session hosted by Vanessa Er, where:
1. Participants shared their reflections on what they enjoyed and had learned during the research, what surprised them the most, and what changes to their local food environment they would like to see,
2. Attendees asked questions and shared their views on the calorie labelling policy, reflected on access to un/healthy food options locally and the exhibition itself.
Reflections
Attendee feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Comments on what the attendees enjoyed the most included “excellent displays and artwork” and others highlighted “Hearing from young people and their parents” and “The insightful discussion. Particularly with young people’s input.” One of the most valuable aspects of the event (and which is key to a photovoice approach) was the conversation it sparked during the engaging and impassioned Q&A session.
We were particularly impressed with the confidence of our research participants in expressing their views. It was clear that young people are informed consumers and care about what is in their food and how it is made. They are also highly aware of the advertising tactics used to tempt them into purchasing ‘junk’ food. An attendee reflected that they were surprised by:
“How actively engaged the young people were already on the subject and sometimes are portrayed as though they are pawns swayed by advertising and social media. Good to see them as empowered people.”
Parents and young people were vocal about the inequity in access to healthier food. They shared that the availability of affordable, healthier food is limited in areas with high levels of deprivation compared to more affluent areas. One commented that they would like to see “The government being able to help less wealthy societies.”
Following the Q&A, some said their perspectives on the calorie labelling policy changed after the session. Many were inspired by our approach and expressed interest in using creative research methods to enhance their own research or public engagement efforts.
What’s next?
As the exhibition came to a close, one thing became clear – this was just the beginning of a larger conversation. Many attendees asked if the exhibition could be made available online to reach a wider audience. In response, we plan to explore options for digitising the exhibition in collaboration with our SPHR communications colleagues.
The exhibition will be on display to LSHTM students and staff in throughout March 2025. Our other study site in Devon has undertaken a similar approach, including a photo exhibition. We will showcase photographs from both sites at the final dissemination event (in July 2025).
Related news
