The WordPress Photo Festival 2024 retrospective was a highly successful event that aimed to boost the number of submissions and photos in the WordPress Photo Directory. The festival spanned a week and included various activities such as photo walks, photo contributor days, and an orientation session.
The event was organized by a group of volunteers from the Waitress Kerala community, who collaborated on planning and executing the festival. While there was no designated lead organizer, Bigul Malayi served as the main point of contact for the event. The organizers worked together as a team, sharing ideas and responsibilities.
One of the key challenges faced by the organizers was transitioning from organizing in-person events, such as WordCamps, to an entirely online event. However, they found that not having to worry about venue arrangements and logistics was a major advantage. The organizers focused on building an efficient system to display the photos and facilitate the moderation process.
In terms of future improvements, the organizers highlighted the need to enhance the photo display system, allowing for more efficient sorting and moderation. They also suggested accepting more photos from individual contributors, but acknowledged the challenge of moderating a larger volume of submissions. To ensure fairness, they proposed prioritizing the approval process for photos submitted first by each contributor.
The organizers also discussed the possibility of incorporating in-person elements into future events, creating a hybrid format that allows attendees to participate both online and in person. They emphasized the importance of allocating more time for preparation to ensure a smoother execution of the event.
Despite the time constraints, the organizers successfully spread the word about the event through their community networks and received significant participation. They also translated the event guidelines into different local languages to encourage inclusivity and engagement from various regions.
Overall, the WordPress Photo Festival 2024 retrospective demonstrated the power of community collaboration and showcased the potential for future events dedicated to contributing to the WordPress Photo Directory. The organizers’ dedication and innovative ideas resulted in a successful event that attracted participants from around the world.
