Zaydee Sanchez - Journalist

My name is Zaydee Sanchez, and I am a Mexican-American visual journalist, documentary photographer, and writer. I am originally from Tulare, California, an agricultural town in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, which inspires much of my personal work. With a focus on labor workers, the environment, and migration across the U.S., Mexico, and Central America, I gravitate towards long-form stories, immersing myself in communities and topics to provide comprehensive narratives. Through storytelling, I aim to inform, connect, heal, and highlight the resilience of humanity.

I proudly serve on the NAHJ’s Visual Task Force board and I am a member of Authority Collective, Women Photograph, Diversify Photo, and NPPA.

I am based in Los Angeles, California, covering Southern California, California’s Central Valley/San Joaquin Valley, and the U.S. southern border from Tijuana to Nogales, Mexico. Always open for travel.

Contact: zaydee@zaydeesanchez.com | WhatsApp +1 (559) 331-2663 | Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Selected Clients: The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Mother Jones, Reuters, High Country News, National Geographic (words), NPR, Al Jazeera, El Pais, palabra, CalMatters, Chalkbeat, Laist.

Awards and Recognitions

2024 - Pictures of the Year - Washington Post Team Picture Story, “Portrait of a Year in Migration Turmoil.”
2024 - 11th Annual New York Portfolio Review
2023 - Society of Professional Journalists, “Excellence in Journalism Photo Essay, Pajaro’s Quest to Rebuild.” For Mother Jones.
2023 - Society of Professional Journalists, “Explanatory Journalism, A-drift Pesticide Series.” For Palabra and Environmental Health News.
2023 - Domestic Violence Impact Fund Grantee.
2023 - Economic Hardship Reporting Project Fellowship.
2023 - Foundry International Workshop
2022 - Economic Hardship Reporting Project Grantee.
2021 - USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism California Fellowship.
2021 - International Women’s Media Foundation Grantee.
2019 - Recognized by The Commission on the Status of Women. “For her devotion to empowering women in her community through her visual journalism.

Speaking Engagements

Chapman University - “The Process of Visual Stories" April 10, 2024.
Fotolandia - “The Price of Talent: Creating Equity for BIPOC Creators.” April 7, 2024.
Our Latina Lens - “Funding Photo Projects.” January 23, 2024.
California State Fullerton - “Breaking Boundaries for Media Equality.” September 23, 2023.
The Institute for Independent Journalists - “Succeeding as an Independent Photojournalist.” March 10, 2023.
Opinion Essay for NPPA. September 3, 2022.
Encuentro Internacional Fotoperiodismo y Fotodocumental CHA JASPY. - Mexicali, Mexico. Nov.12, 2022.
NPPA "Covering Immigration with Care." Oct. 26, 2022.
Ohio University SPJ "Documenting Under-represented Communities." - October 22, 2022.
NABJ&NAHJ Convention "Creating Your Own Space: a freelance photographers toolbox." and "Palabra how we did it: how to tackle ambitious projects." Las Vegas, Nevada. Aug.4, 2022.
Conecta Arizona "La Hora del Cafecito en la Radio." March 24, 2022.