Fresh Focus Photography Grant
Showing the Farmer Behind the Food: Telling Your Story Through a Fresh Lens.
Professional photos to support farmers
For farmers and local food producers who sell directly within their communities, visibility and strong branding are essential to reaching customers and building trust. FARRMS is offering a grant that will reimburse producers for professional photoshoots. Professional photos support farmers to authentically tell their story, strengthen their brand, and increase their reach within the communities they serve. Reimbursement is available for up to $500.00.
Eligible Costs
Fresh Focus Photography Grant is a reimbursement grant for local producers to hire a professional photographer for an on farm photoshoot session. The photoshoots are meant to offer producers the opportunity to showcase their products, the people involved, and their farming operations. Applicants are responsible for scheduling and paying for photoshoots. FARRMS will reimburse the cost of the photoshoot up to $500.00. Reimbursement covers the photographer's session only; additional expenses such as props and prints are not eligible. Photoshoots must be completed by August 30 to be eligible for reimbursement.
Application Requirements
This grant is intended for local producers in North Dakota and the Red River Valley who are utilizing online marketing channels. “Local producers” are those who are growing local food or agricultural products and marketing directly to consumers at farmers markets, through CSAs, on-farm sales, agritourism, farm-to-institution, farm-to-restaurant, or other direct sales. Applicants must live in North Dakota, or if they are in the Red River Valley but in Minnesota, they must market their products in North Dakota. “Online marketing channels” includes social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram, a website, or a digital newsletter.
Reimbursement Process
This is a reimbursement grant. Grant awardees will submit invoices or receipts showing costs of the photoshoot. Photoshoots must be completed by August 30 to be eligible for reimbursement. Reimbursement requests, including receipts or invoices, must be submitted to FARRMS by September 15, 2026. Selected applicants will be reimbursed the total cost up to $500. FARRMS reserves the right to partially fund a grant request or deny a grant request. Grant applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and will close when all four grants are awarded.
Selection Process
4 grants are available for 2026. Only applicants meeting the requirement (direct-to-market producer, marketing in North Dakota, utilizes online marketing) will be considered. Applicants will be asked to explain their marketing goals and how professional photos will help them better promote their farm, products, or business. Clear, thoughtful responses will be a key part of the selection process. Priority will be given to those who have completed the Farm Beginnings course and/or participated in the Summer Mentorship program. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all grants are awarded. FARRMS staff will make final funding decisions.
Providing farmers with professional branding photoshoots:
Supports underrepresented producers who can’t afford professional photography.
Strengthens local economies by increasing visibility of local foods and keeps food dollars in the community.
Creates stronger connections between farmers and customers with images of real people on real farms, building transparency and trust.
Provides reusable assets to farmers that can be used for years across multiple platforms including social media, websites, and grant applications.
Increases sales potential with high-quality visuals that lead to higher engagement and conversion rates, especially for direct-to-consumer sales.
Enhances perceived value of local products by communicating quality, care, and professionalism, helping producers justify premium pricing.
Expands cross-promotion opportunities by providing high-quality photos that make it easier for markets, food hubs, local media, and other organizations to feature producers.
*We recognize that other marketing grants for farmers are focused on marketing supplies and do not cover professional fees. We chose to create a grant specific to photography expenses to equip producers with high-quality images that can be used across marketing platforms including social media, websites, email campaigns, and digital and print advertising.
While funds are limited for 2026, we recommended applying if interested. The amount of applicants and interest will help us determine if we should continue or expand this program in the future.