Making media for movement building

What We Do.

Survival Media Agency creates visual media as a core tool for movements that inspire action, strip power from harmful narratives, and make communities more resilient.

Through stunning photography, videography, and visual media strategy, we make your work come alive.

Two women smiling and holding cameras at a crowded outdoor protest or rally in an urban setting.
Woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat and purple blouse taking a photo with a camera on a tripod outdoors.
Two women outdoors, one holding a camera, the other holding a microphone with a windscreen, both smiling.
About Us

We create impact - we believe in the power of narrative to create social change.

We work with integrity - we build with the communities we are in and advocate for non-extractive approaches.

We are racially diverse - we know our strength is in our differences.

We practice intersectionality - from our operations to our approach to the stories we tell.

We pay freelancers a living wage - we understand the importance of our work in movement building and what it means to sustainably contribute to making change.

Our Values.

Our Offerings.

  • A woman from an indigenous tribe wearing a large, colorful beaded collar is sitting against a brown wall, holding a green bowl and shredding leaves or plant material with her hands.

    VIDEOGRAPHY

    From thought-provoking short documentaries to rapid advocacy campaigns, we specialize in producing video content that creates movement cohesion, mobilizes communities, and drives meaningful impact on both local and global scales.

    Transform your messages into dynamic visual stories that resonate with viewers and spark meaningful dialogue. Our creatives will partner with you to craft narratives that shed light on pressing social and environmental issues, amplifying marginalized voices and creating narrative change.

  • Crowd of people gathered outdoors with the Washington Monument in the background, some wearing masks and head coverings, during daytime.

    PHOTOGRAPHY

    Documentary photography stands as a timeless testament to truth, empathy, and the human experience. Through the lens of a camera, we have the extraordinary ability to preserve moments, stories, and emotions that shape our world.

    From protests to portraits, our photographers are experts at capturing raw, authentic moments that bear witness to the frontlines of movements and above all humanize the issues at hand.

  • A diverse group of people in a classroom, sitting around tables, engaging in a workshop or discussion, with notebooks, pens, and sticky notes. The woman in the center wears glasses, a red beret, a colorful scarf, and is writing on sticky notes.

    VISUAL STRATEGY CONSULTING

    With over a decade of experience, we know what it takes to tell a compelling visual story and amplify an organization’s impact.

    We'll work closely with your team to develop a comprehensive visual strategy that aligns with your mission and resonates with your audience. From creating compelling visuals to producing engaging videos, we'll equip you with the tools and tactics needed to make sure the most strategic story gets told to the right audience.

Contact Us

“Not only did SMA deliver a beautiful video and in a timely manner, they were also able to fully harness the project's vision and evoke the essence of our narrative. However, the true gift in partnering with SMA is their collective orientation towards building just futures -- it's the lens through which they apply every aspect of their visual storytelling -- resulting in grounded, authentic, and powerful work. “

- Climate Justice Alliance

A circular emblem with a sunflower design, blue waves at the bottom, and the text 'Climate Justice Alliance' at the top. The bottom text reads 'Communities United for a Just Transition' in orange.

“We partnered with SMA because of their longtime commitment to social movements in the Bay Area and beyond, as well as the beauty of the work they’ve produced over the years in service of our movements. Through poetry and images of community and resilience, they helped us bring our vision to life in ways that not only inspired our audiences, but also truly inspired and energized us as we move forward in our work on the land. The video helped us exceed our capital campaign goal to raise $1 million for the Justice & Ecology Center. “

- Dana Viloria, Movement Generation

The image shows a logo with an m and a g and reads "Movement Generation, Justice & Ecology Project"

“Survival Media truly understands the power of visual storytelling. For over a decade, their artists have worked with APEN to tell stories that put names, faces, and emotions to fights for justice. Their photographers and videographers are both incredibly talented and great to work with. Survival Media moves with us at whatever pace is needed whether it's quickly turning around videos to mobilize people during big campaign moments or taking the time to build trust as we tell stories from our communities.”

- Marie Choi, Asian Pacific Environmental Network

organizational logo showing an adult and a child's hsadow with their fists up over a green background with a skyline cutout.