Omo TribesEthiopia’s Omo Valley

Journey

Private Film & Photography Journey

A custom journey for filmmakers, photographers, researchers, and serious creators — built around access, consent, time, and getting material back to communities.

Add original field photograph + caption

Serious image-making in the Omo Valley carries serious obligations. The Private Film & Photography Journey is a fully custom trip for people whose work demands real access and who want to do it ethically — with consent, patience, fair payment, and a commitment to getting material back to the communities involved.

Dakota's own filming experience in the Lower Omo is the backbone of this journey: the relationships, the location knowledge, and a hard-earned understanding of what respectful access actually requires. Tell us about your project on the inquiry form and we'll build from there.

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. Pre-trip
    Scope and consent plan

    We define locations, subjects, permissions, and a consent and payment plan before anything is booked.

  2. On location
    Time built around the work

    Days are shaped by light, access, and relationships rather than a fixed circuit — patience is the method.

  3. Throughout
    Ethical workflow

    Negotiated consent, fair payment, honest framing, and a plan to return material to communities.

  4. Wrap
    Return and follow-through

    We help get prints, footage, or copies back to the people who appear in them.

Communities visited

Each link opens our full page on that community, so you arrive already understanding what you are seeing.

Included

  • Dedicated vehicle(s), fuel, and logistics for the shoot
  • Lead guide and named local guides; introductions built on real relationships
  • Coordination of location, community, and filming permissions and fees
  • Consent-first workflow and fair, transparent community payment
  • Flexible scheduling around light, ceremonies, and access

Not included

  • International flights, visa, and insurance (production insurance recommended)
  • Government filming permits/fees beyond the standard (quoted per project)
  • Equipment, crew salaries, and post-production
  • Personal spending and tips

Request this journey

We reply personally, usually within two working days. Nothing here is a commitment — it starts a conversation.

Form delivery isn’t connected yet — submitting opens a pre-filled email to info@thecommunitygarden.org. A form service can be wired in on request.