Photos and video that raise money on Giving Tuesday
Real photos and short video work better than generic visuals. What to make, how to ask consent, how to credit sources and what to plan before 1 December.
TL;DR On Giving Tuesday use real photos and short video of your own work, not generic visuals: the official toolkit recommends it. Make them in the 8 weeks before 1 December, ask for consent before you show people and always credit the source. A video of 15 to 30 seconds with one request is enough. With WeGlow.world you place them in a post, story and email banner for free.
On Tuesday 1 December 2026 your donors will see dozens of appeals. A photo or video where something real happens sticks. A generic image scrolls past. This article shows what to make, how to do it respectfully and how to use it.
Everything is doable for a small team with a smartphone. You do not need a designer or a film crew.
Why do real photos work better than generic images?
Real photos and video of your own work show what a gift does, and that is what people respond to. The official toolkit recommends posting photos and videos that tell your story, rather than graphic visuals everyone shares, see the GivingTuesday toolkit. Extending that to stock photos is our own reasoning: any organisation can use them, so they say nothing about you.
- A real photo shows who you help and what you do
- An image of your own looks like nobody else's
- A volunteer in action builds more trust than a model
- It costs nothing, you already have it or make it in one afternoon
Which photos and videos do you make before 1 December?
Make four kinds of images: a photo of your work, a portrait of someone who gave consent, an image of your team and a short video with your request. Those four cover post, story, email and donation page. Start in the first 2 weeks, so you have time to adjust.
| Image | What it shows | Where you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Your work | Your organisation at work, not posed | Feed post, email banner |
| Portrait with consent | One person and what a gift means to her | Story, email, donation page |
| Team or volunteers | The people behind the organisation | Post on the day itself |
| Short video | Why you need support now | Story, reel, email with link |
The toolkit also names themes such as the impact of your work, why you need support and voices from the community. They make a good list for planning your images.
How do you ask consent for photos of people?
Always ask the person you photograph for consent beforehand, and say what you use the image for: fundraising on Giving Tuesday. Rules on image rights differ by country, so check what applies where you work, for example with your national data protection authority. Inside the EU the GDPR applies everywhere, see the European Commission guidance for organisations. Consent for one purpose does not automatically cover another use.
- Ask for consent before you photograph, not afterwards.
- Say exactly where the image will appear: social media, email, donation page.
- Have the consent confirmed on paper or by email and keep it.
- Make clear the person can later ask for the image to be removed.
- Use the image only for the purpose you got consent for.
Be extra careful with children and vulnerable people. When in doubt, ask for legal advice. This is general information and not legal advice. If you do not want to show someone, work with hands, details or an image from behind.
How do you make a short video that works?
Make a video of 15 to 30 seconds, vertical, with one person speaking, subtitles and one request at the end. The toolkit recommends videos that explain why you need support. Keep it simple: a smartphone, daylight and a quiet spot are enough.
- Start with the sentence that shows the problem, not with your logo.
- Let one person or volunteer tell it in their own words.
- Add subtitles, because many people watch without sound.
- End with one request and the date 1 December 2026.
- Keep a version without text for use in other formats.
The length of 15 to 30 seconds is our guideline, not a research result. Feel free to test it on your own audience and adjust.
How do you credit sources and respect copyright?
Only use images you are sure you may use: your own photos, images from volunteers with written permission or images under a free licence whose terms you follow. Credit the creator where required. Never simply take a photo from the internet.
- Note for every photo who took it and when
- Ask the photographer by email whether it may be used in your campaign
- Put the creator's name under the post when that is asked
- Do not use photos from someone else's campaign without permission
- With a free licence, check the terms on the source site
How do you use your images with WeGlow.world?
With the free layout generator of WeGlow.world you place a real photo in a post, story, cover or email banner, in the sizes 1080 by 1080, 1080 by 1920, 1584 by 396 and 1200 by 400. When you are logged in, it fills in name, logo and colour automatically. You find it on the layouts page.
Your donation page in WeGlow.world carries your logo and colour, so your images and page form one whole. Schedule your emails in WeGlow Mail and add your image. Also read how to make strong social media posts and how to reuse one story.
Which mistakes do you avoid with photos and video?
The biggest mistakes are using images of people without consent, making videos that are too long and only starting to take photos on the day itself. If you plan 2 weeks ahead, you can check everything calmly.
- Posting a photo of a participant without consent
- Posting a video of 3 minutes that nobody watches
- Using a stock photo that every other organisation also picks
- Not adding subtitles
- Letting the image not match the text on your donation page
Frequently asked questions
May I use stock photos on Giving Tuesday?
You may, but real images of your own work do better. The toolkit recommends your own photos and videos over generic visuals. With WeGlow.world you easily place them in your own house style.
Do I need consent to photograph someone?
Yes, ask beforehand and say what you use the image for. Image rights differ by country, so check the local rules. You can then use the photo in WeGlow.world for the purpose you got consent for.
How long should a video be?
Aim for 15 to 30 seconds with one request at the end. That is a guideline, not a rule. You can share the video via post, story or email and add the link to your WeGlow.world donation page.
Do I have to credit the creator of a photo?
That depends on the agreement or licence. For your own photos you do not, for other people's photos you often do. Note the source and credit it where needed. Use the WeGlow.world layouts with images you are sure about.
Can I make images without a designer?
Yes, with a smartphone and the free layout generator. When you are logged in, WeGlow.world fills in name, logo and colour automatically. You only add a real photo and a sentence.
Set up your images
Plan 1 hour this week to take photos and ask for consent. Create a free account on WeGlow.world, set up your donation page and make your posts with the layout generator. No setup fees and no contract. Start via the sign-up page or ask your question via the contact form.
Sources and check: the official GivingTuesday toolkit for nonprofits and the European Commission guidance on the GDPR, checked on 7 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.