Digital Photographer - UK (2020-05)

T

hroughout history,female

photographershavegenerated

an invaluablecollectionofimages,

enhancing thephotographicrecord

of places, people andevents.Someofthe

world’s most recognisedimageshavebeen

captured by women,workingbothinthe

field and operating theirownsuccessful

photographic studios.Yeteventoday,when

photography is moreaccessiblethanever,

there is still – in somegenres,atleast– an

imbalance in the imagecontributionsof

women and men, aswellasinpositionsof

influence within theindustry.

However, things arechangingquickly.Asit

becomes possible togarneranuncappedand

loyal following – basedonmeritratherthan

background – throughonlineplatforms,there

are more opportunitiesthaneverforevery

photographer to beseen.Thetraditional

industry limits no longerapply,andwomen

who may have traditionallystruggledtobreak

into a male-dominatedenvironmentare

finding their work celebratedandpromoted

across the globe.

In this feature, westartbytakinga look

back at some of themostpioneeringfemale

photographers throughhistory.Thenwe’ll

speak to five professionalwomeninthe

industry today – shootingeverythingfrom

wildlife to self-portraits– andexploretheir

struggles and successeswhenit comes

to being heard and fulfillinga creative

vision. What does itmeantobea female

photographer in 2020?

Pictured

The modern womenin photography

Our female cover stars featureherein a morerelaxed

image, reflecting the changingnatureofthemodern

photo industry – and the technologythatcomeswith

it. From left to right: CaronSteele,ClaireGillo,Kerry

James, Verity Milligan and BeckyWelford

All

images

©

Olly

Curtis

Women in Photography

womeninphotography.info

SheClicks

sheclicks.net

Fast For ward

fastforward.photography

Women who travel

womentravel.info

Women in Street

womeninstreet.com

Resourceswelove

Online communitieswhereyou

can find inspirationorinteraction

aphy

Verity Milligan

veritymilliganphotography.com

@ veritymilligan

Shoots on all formats and

learns her craft slowly

and methodically. Verity’s

creative project with us

starts on p76.

Becky Welford

beckywelfordphotography.com

@beckywelfordphotography

UK and destination wedding

photographer. Becky’s work

is all about “Wild hearts,

natural moments and honest

connections...”

FEMALE FORCES