Dominique Hildebrand

Dominique Hildebrand is a visual editor and storyteller currently serving as the Climate & Environment Photo Assignment Editor at The Washington Post. In this role, she commissions and curates visual narratives that illuminate the pressing environmental challenges of our time. 

Prior to joining The Post, Dominique was a photo editor at National Geographic, where she led multiplatform projects, including the September 2022 cover feature on America's land conservation strategy. Her work also encompassed stories on natural disasters and extreme weather, such as a compelling photo-led piece on how certain bird species might help predict hurricane intensity.

Dominique's commitment to excellence in visual storytelling has been recognized by her peers;  in 2025, she was named a finalist for Visual Editor of the Year by POYi. She also served as a judge for the 78th College Photographer of the Year competition in 2023, contributing her expertise to the next generation of photojournalists.

Beyond her editorial responsibilities, Dominique is dedicated to fostering inclusive environments within the media industry. While at National Geographic, she co-chaired the organization's LGBTQIA+ employee resource group, advocating for a workplace where everyone can authentically express themselves.

A passionate educator and mentor, Dominique frequently leads workshops and portfolio reviews, sharing her knowledge with both emerging and established photographers. She holds a master’s degree in multimedia, photography, and design from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, and a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Send story pitches and ideas to dominique.hildebrand[at]washpost.com

Photograph by Rebecca Hale and Mark Thiessen