Women photographers have often contributed immensely to the world of image-making. But despite their best efforts, their work has often been overshadowed by that of their male peers. For instance, Julia Margaret Cameron‘s soft portraits were considered “amateur”, while Anna Atkins‘ first book was delayed to promote Henry Talbot’s work. Keeping these challenges in mind, today, we take a look at 10 contemporary women photographers whose stories continue to impact the way we see our world.
The lead image is by Chloe Jafe. All images have been used with permission in our interviews.
Table of Contents
Caitlin Fullam
A self-taught photographer, Caitlin Fullam’s images are nothing short of being ethereal. They whisk the viewer away from their busy lives into a world that offers serenity. The image above is an example of that. One can read the photo as a window of opportunity into a better future. Given that the work was born during the pandemic, it is a photograph that will help elevate one’s mood despite the challenges. In a time when many of us are fighting against AI, Caitlin’s work reminds us why it is important to have more women photographers shaping our visual world.
In her interview, Caitlin said:
Double exposures feel so playful and interesting to me! I love the idea of creating a story by intentionally combining two separate images. The process itself is fun because I creatively construct the scene in my head prior and then try to bring it to life, which is much easier said than done.
Dina Goldstein
Women photographers in journalism had always had to fight to get the spotlight. Dina’s 30-year career is an example of why women’s voices matter. Having worked with film, digital, commission, and photojournalistic images, Dina’s work is often socially engaged and moves beautifully between raw images and conceptual narratives. The image above shows how she had to think quickly on her feet. Had she cropped the city behind devastation, the image would have fallen flat, but the contrast is just what helps you see the lives that may have been impacted that day.
Photojournalists are incredibly brave and oftentimes risk their lives in order to capture these moments that will shift perspective. This is evident today where the Press pass no longer protects people out in the field. Journalists are being kidnapped and murdered. Women journalists are beaten and raped. There are also issues of systematic biases and misinformation, which complicates issues within the field of Journalism.
Laurie Freitag
Historically, women photographers have often turned towards photographing children, either to showcase lost childhood or their own little world of familial life. In Laurie’s case, it was the former. The image above was created when Laurie was working as a nanny. As she pieces together her childhood, she is also leaving behind a gift for the children she photographs. But above all, the unguarded moments, the compulsion, and the use of shapes make the kid appear in a little wonderland of their own — a photo that will certainly be recalled once they grow up.
In our interview, Laurie said:
My hope would be that parents would learn to appreciate these moments that are temporary and allow children the freedom to express themselves and explore their worlds.
Chloe Jafe
Young recruits looking after children on the beach at the celebration of “Umi no hi”,
the day of the sea.
(Photograph with acrylic)
The Japanese Mafia has inspired countless films, but Chloe Jafe’s series showcases how far the rreality can be from what we see on the screen. Chloe focused on the women who work in the underworld, especially after she learned the language. The image above is quite interesting, as it shows the men spending time with the young kids of the mafia, portraying a softer side of them that is not often seen. The bright yellow acrylic color against the black and white only adds colors to one’s imagination about what that could have been like. The relaxed arms are too constraining to the tattoos, but overall, the image draws you in, making you wonder what must have unfolded next.
I learned to be patient and persevering. It was quite tough at the beginning. I felt lonely and discouraged because no one believed in my project, but somehow I didn’t give up, and I am happy I didn’t.
Nina Robinson
Nina Robinson is a Minneapolis-based documentary photographer and someone who works with the elderly at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital Department of Family Medicine. The image above is part of her phototherapy program, a class for senior citizens to keep them motivated and engaged, and to discuss topics that matter to them. Barry’s photograph, in this case, reminds one of a spring afternoon where they may have had one of the best days of their lives. The sprinkle of water and the light hitting off is just so magical, reminding us to be grateful for what we have achieved so far.
Our elderly population is often ignored in our society and we need to understand the importance of giving them a platform like this because they still have a lot to say and a lot they can do. Engaging in phototherapy amplifies their voices. It creates a space for them to speak, share, feel empowered and meet new people they may not have met otherwise.
Flora Borsi
Flora Borsi’s images make you uncomfortable. The work, titled Siamese, is inspired by the biological phenomenon in which children can be born physically joined. Her work also showcases Flora’s struggles with herself, as many of us do. However, her images are so striking that it takes a second to realise that the photographer is merging herself, just like a snake eating itself when hungry. Women photographers often remind us how one can turn oneself into a symbolic object without looking outside.
In this series, I’m trying to show my fight with myself, the other part of me. The one who is always remain silent, wants to escape, and everyone has this part in themselves.
Julie Hrudova
Julie is a street photographer who noticed how the latest images are leading us to see the world the same way. This led her to launch her initiative, StreetRepeat, in which she handpicked 3 images and placed them side by side to showcase their similarities. The image above is one such example that showcases how visual saturation has led people to shoot images the same way. With this initiative, Julie reminded us that it often is hard to push beyond an idea. If you have thought it, someone has done it. So what are you doing to make things different?
I think it is important to listen to your personal voice in photography and to capture things you like to capture in the way you want to capture it. It’s an ongoing process of finding, keeping, and reevaluating this personal urge. But there is no need to force ourselves too much to be so original while shooting as this pressure can hold back the creativity.
Tasneem AlSultan
Tasneem AlSultan is a Saudi-based photographer who has often turned her lens on the lives of women in her country. One of the projects for which she is best known is her series, Maid in Saudi Arabia, which showcases the lives of migrant workers who move to Saudi Arabia in search of work. Through the images, one sees how much effort these workers put into their jobs just to earn enough to send money back home to their families. The image above is quite telling: the kids of rich families are often left with the maids so they can be bathed, fed, and cared for. The women may have left their children to raise someone else’s, and that is quite telling about how our modern world works. Photographers like AlSultan consistently remind us of the importance of women imagemakers in spaces that are often ignored.
In our interview, Tasneem said:
Not many household owners agreed to be included, so I didn’t pursue them. The only difficulty was that everyone photographed felt uncomfortable having me photograph their bedrooms. I didn’t want anyone to feel like I was invading their small private sanctuary, so I only photographed their bedrooms if invited in.
Jenna Shouldice
One reason we need more women photographers is that they help the world see the struggles of being a woman. Jenna’s series is a great example of that. Through her images, the photographer showcases the oscillation between pain, beauty, and the enigma of birth. Some images are loud, showing the sheer will of the mother as she pushes her baby, while others are quieter, like the image above. Without seeing who this woman is, one can instantly feel how she is gathering her support, with the hand that’s holding her. We do not know whose hand that is, but in this very moment, that’s the thing that’s helping the owman be strong.
I’m always photographing from a position of empathy. My work would be nothing if it exploited its subjects. Instead, my approach is to make pictures that honor and celebrate the depths of the birthing experience. I attempt to give power to the moments no matter how vulnerable the people are in them. Instead of trying to curate an arbitrary idea of what a birth should look like, I photograph with honesty, and with the purpose of celebrating how powerful those honest moments actually are.
Elizaveta Porodina
A Munich-based fashion photographer, Elizaveta’s self-portraits showcase her love for colors and geometry. When one is often learning photography, the first thing they have to do is learn about geometry and patterns, alongside light, but Elizaveta spins that idea on its head to create portraits that are creative but also draw you deeper into who she is as a person. With self-portraits becoming increasingly popular, Elizaveta is helping people open themselves to the world without any guilt or fear.