Stephen Shames was the official photographer of the Black Panther Party, the revolutionary group who fought for racial equality in the United States and supported communities nationwide. 

Shames testified about child poverty to the United States Senate in 1986. Shames was named a Purpose Prize Fellow in 2010 by Encore.org for his work helping AIDS orphans and former child soldiers in Africa. His works are held in museums collections worldwide including MoMa, The Metropolitan Museum & The National Portrait Gallery, USA.

While Shames has photographed a vast array of subjects—from political leaders to ordinary people across diverse cultures—a unifying thread runs through his photos: an exploration of what divides and unites us. His images of children and families reveal stories of violence, abuse, love, hope, and transcendence, offering a window into the complexities of the human experience.