Choose a photograph for a missing-person appeal

The strongest photograph for an appeal is one that helps people recognize the person accurately. It does not need to look like a promotional image. Start with a recent, clear picture that you have appropriate permission or authority to share.

Check what the image actually shows

Look for a visible face and an appearance reasonably close to the person's current one. A photograph with heavy filters, a costume, or a distant face may be less useful than an ordinary everyday picture.

If the only available photograph is old, say so. Do not silently present a childhood image as current, or create an artificial update that readers could mistake for a real photograph.

Review the whole frame

Inspect the background as well as the face. Other children, a home address, an identity badge, or private paperwork may be visible. Choose a different suitable image where possible. Any necessary crop should preserve an unaltered original separately.

• Is the intended person easy to identify in the frame?
• Is the photo's age understood?
• Are unnecessary people or private details visible?
• Is sharing the image authorized?

Keep the original available

Retain the original file for authorized follow-up rather than relying only on a compressed screenshot from a messaging app. Label any edited copy so it cannot be confused with the source.

For Wakif submissions, the first photograph is used as the primary public and search image. Choose that image deliberately. Additional media can provide context, but a large collection does not compensate for a misleading primary photograph.