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Cover photo by Emma Dubrovsky
While International Women’s Day is marked every March, isn’t it strange that we reserve just one day to celebrate the achievements of women across various industries? At Vallerret, we believe that women are breaking boundaries, especially in fields like photography & filmmaking, where they are often underrepresented and deserve recognition year-round. Why wait for one specific day to shine a spotlight on their extraordinary work?
In a world where women make up around 65% of photography students [1], it’s perplexing that only 15-20% of professional photographers are women or nonbinary people. And the representation of women and nonbinary photographers on the front pages of major newspapers stagnated since 2020.The gap is breathtakingly big in commercial photography, where men capture over 85% of advertisements and 92% of magazine covers [2].
When it comes to salary, the divide continues. While the figures vary, a gender wage gap persists, as it does in many industries. This discrepancy is part of the broader challenge of achieving gender equality in general.
While the representation of women in photography & filmmaking has been growing, the journey to recognition becomes even more complex when considering the voices of people of color, Indigenous photographers, and other marginalized groups whose stories and contributions are often overlooked entirely.
That’s why today – and every day – we’re thrilled to spotlight the stories and work of 15 incredible women photographers who are all transforming the industry in their own way. Let’s celebrate female creatives now, and always!
Hailing from Montreal, Emma Dubrovsky is a force in the photography world, seamlessly capturing the grandeur of landscapes, the thrill of wildlife, and the adrenaline of snowboarding and skiing. Her love for nature and sports shines through in her work, and she’s making her mark in areas of photography that are often tough to break into. Emma’s determination and passion inspire others to explore their surroundings and follow their dreams.
Tara Workman, originally from Barbados and now living in the Pacific Northwest, finds joy in capturing life’s simpler moments through her minimalist and abstract photography. Inspired by nature's quiet beauty, her work uses colors and shapes to draw viewers in and invite them to pause. Tara's talent has earned her several honors, including 1st place in the Landscape category at the Minimalist Photography Awards 2022 and being named Capture Landscapes' "Photographer of the Year 2021" . She also chatted about her creative process and “happy accidents” on The Landscape Photography Show with David Johnston. Through her images, Tara aims to inspire curiosity and offer a peaceful escape from the rush of everyday life.
Joana Braga is a Portugal-born filmmaker, designer, and FPV drone pilot now living in Iceland. From crafting yachts and prosthetics to creating cinematic masterpieces, she merges technical expertise with a unique artistic flair. With the motto, "Ladies don’t drone? Try me!", Joana’s social content is an energetic blend of stunning visuals, filmmaking magic, and contagious good vibes that leave her audience inspired and smiling.
Fabián is a visual artist from the Yalalteca Indigenous community in Mexico, using photography to explore identity, migration, and community ties. She is a 2024 BERTHA FOUNDATION Grantee, 2021 Photography and Social Justice Magnum Fellow, and National Geographic Society Explorer. Her project “I'm from Yalalag”delves into Zapotec identity. Fabián has exhibited her work globally, with coverage in The New York Times, The LA Times, and The Guardian. She is a member of Women Photograph and Indigenous Photograph collectives, and her work is part of various prestigious collections.
Katie Farr is a British photographer based in the French Alps, celebrated for her groundbreaking infrared photography. Using a full-spectrum converted camera, Katie reveals a hidden world beyond the visible light spectrum, showcasing surreal landscapes and transporting viewers to another dimension.
When she's not capturing ethereal infrared scenes, Katie brings her passion for storytelling to luxury adventure elopements, family travel photography, and commercial projects for renowned brands. As the official photographer for the Four Seasons Hotel and Mont D’Arbois Chalets in Megeve, Katie blends elegance with emotion, creating timeless images that evoke wonder and connection.
Roksolana Baran is a Ukrainian landscape and outdoor commercial photographer with a strong background in arts and design, honed during her studies in Lviv. Her foundation as a graphic and web designer has given her a unique edge in post-production and a keen eye for composition and color.
Driven by a passion for adventure and exploration, Roksolana’s work captures the beauty of remote and rugged locations around the globe. From commercial collaborations and fine art prints to leading author tours and workshops, she thrives on sharing her expertise and wanderlust with others. Whether tackling a far-flung expedition or a local project, Roksolana brings creativity and a fresh perspective to everything she does.
Melissa Schäfer, a Hamburg-born photographer, has been capturing the world through her lens since childhood. Melissa’s deep passion for the Arctic and its majestic polar bears, coupled with her commitment to nature and conservation, forms the core of her artistic vision.
At the helm of Mother magazine, Melissa leads with a mission to spotlight female artists and storytellers while fostering a deeper reverence for Mother Nature. Her fascination with the polar bears of Svalbard inspired her to co-author the acclaimed book Polar Tales with her partner Fredrik Granath, published in English, German (Das Königreich der Eisbären), and Swedish (Bortom isbjörnens rike). Melissa’s work has also graced the pages of The New York Times, National Geographic, GEO, and more, sharing stories that inspire and connect us to the natural world.In collaboration with Anderson Rocio and Riverine Records, Melissa and Mother magazine brought together 44 photographers and filmmakers from around the globe for the official music video of Anderson Rocio's "Power In Us.". This initiative amplifies voices for environmental conservation, serving as a powerful reminder that we all can drive transformative change for our planet.
Lisa Paarvio, aka Suki Media, is a talented creative based at the gateway to the Alps. With a camera in hand and a spirit for adventure, she travels the world—from Arctic tundras to alpine peaks—capturing moments that inspire exploration and a deeper connection to the wild. “Photography allows me to connect with nature and people intimately, seeing a side that very few others do,” she shares. Whether designing global brand campaigns, documenting breathtaking landscapes, or diving into personal projects like Storms and Silence, Lisa transforms wild moments into visual stories that linger in the heart and mind.
Serena Dzenis, an Australian photographer based in Iceland, blends storytelling with surreal landscapes to create images that feel otherworldly. Her work explores the connection between nature and human impact, often merging industrial elements with untouched scenery. With awards like ND Architectural Photographer of the Year 2022 (and many more!) and exhibitions worldwide, Serena uses her lens to inspire curiosity and advocacy for the natural world, inviting viewers to reconsider their relationship with the planet.
Moira stands out as one of the few pioneering female expedition leaders, charting her course in a field historically dominated by men. Her journey began on the coast of British Columbia in 2008, where she broke barriers by guiding in the Great Bear Rainforest, sharing her passion for wildlife and conservation. Today, her expertise and resilience take her across fragile ecosystems worldwide, proving that strength, skill, and determination know no gender. Moira’s leadership continues to inspire as she opens doors for others in adventure and wildlife exploration.
Alia is a Vancouver-based portrait and documentary photographer dedicated to complicating representations of marginalized groups and highlighting underrepresented stories and histories. She founded The Sisters Project in 2016, documenting 160 Muslim women across Canada to combat stereotypes and showcase the diversity of their lives and experiences. The project’s evolution, Generations, captures multigenerational Muslim families, asserting their narratives and reclaiming erased histories.
Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including Times Square and Piccadilly Circus, and featured in publications like The Globe and Mail, Elle, and Maclean's. With a Master of Fine Arts and the Ryerson University Gold Medal, Alia has also shared her insights through public artist talks, notably for Instagram, Apple Pacific Centre, and We Day Toronto.
Jenna is a passionate landscape, travel, and adventure photographer based in the Canadian Rockies. Originally from Manitoba, her love for the outdoors flourished after moving to the mountains, where she developed a deep appreciation for remote, cold-weather regions. With thousands of kilometers trekked across backcountry national parks, her photography captures the rugged beauty of nature’s raw elements. Jenna combines her visuals with storytelling to immerse viewers in her journeys, working with Canadian tourism boards like Travel Yukon and Tourism Vancouver Island, as well as numerous brands and publications.
Lana is a Germany-based nature photographer, biologist, and science storyteller. A National Geographic Explorer andGirls Who Click Ambassador (an amazing initiative empowering young women in nature photography), she focuses on documenting human-nature connections in remote Arctic and marine regions. With a BFA in Film & TV and an MSc in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, she collaborates globally with NGOs, museums, and rescues. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Terra Mater, and more. In 2021, she earned an IPA Honorable Mention and now serves as a Nature TTL competition judge. Lana is also a TEDx speaker advocating for environmental awareness.
Iman is a self-taught documentary photographer from Jeddah, focusing on themes like displacement, identity, gender, and women's stories. Her #wheres_layla project, started in 2012, captures her child's humorous take on motherhood. In 2016, she received a grant from the Arab Documentary Photography Program, exploring the lives of Saudi artists who defy societal norms and navigate the concept of 3eib (shame/taboo). The 3eibproject highlights resistance and self-expression in a restrictive society. Iman freelances between Jeddah and Sarajevo and contributes to The Everyday Projects.
Naina is a South Sami freelance photographer from Snåsa, Norway, now based in Oslo. Specializing in documentary photography, Naina focuses on indigenous perspectives, particularly Sami culture. Awarded the Sami Council's working grant in 2020, she is a proud member of the Sami Artists' Association, as well as the Women Photograph and Indigenous Photograph databases. Her photos have been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, and others, highlighting important indigenous narratives and cultural stories.
Highlighting female creatives is about more than just representation; it’s about challenging the statistics. Women make up the majority of photography students, yet only a small percentage reach the professional level. By sharing the work of these incredible women – though the list could be endlessly long – we aim to inspire others to push boundaries and redefine what it means to be a female professional in male-dominated industries. Their contributions continue to reshape narratives and show the limitless potential of women in the creative world.
Got more inspiring stories to share? Let us know in the comments!
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Martha Montiel
November 25, 2024
What a great blog post Vallerret! Yes, women should be celebrated every day! Hopefully we are moving into an era where the gender gap starts to shrink. There are so many amazing photographers out there and hopefully that list keeps growing. I do love finding new amazing photographers to follow who are doing amazing things. Also, thank you for mentioning Outdoor Photo Alliance and our initiative, the Women’s Winter Photography Conference will be amazing.