This disclosure provides a family of compounds that absorb and fluoresce in the short wave infrared region (SWIR, optionally 1000 nm to 1300 nm), including hydrophilic compounds that exhibit absorption and emission spectral profiles in aqueous solutions substantially similar to those observed in organic solvents such as methanol or DMSO. The compounds can be chemically linked to biomolecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and therapeutic small molecules. The compounds are useful for imaging in a variety of medical, biological and diagnostic applications, including SWIR in vivo imaging of regions of interest within a mammal.