Like many industries, the creative industry remains male-dominated. Therefore, it is important to shed light on the women who are changing the industry one photo at a time.
1. Petra Collins
Petra Collins is arguably one of the most notable photographers of her generation, having taken over the world with her dreamlike aesthetic, inspiring many young artists with her work. Her instantly recognisable style means she is given full creative freedom, even when working for brands. The Business of Fashion note that her distinct aesthetic has made her one of the artists 'leading a new wave of female gaze-led photography'.
"I’m very lucky that I’m not a photographer for hire—people hire me for me” - Petra Collins to Forbes
Petra's photographs revolve around the accurate representation of young women, capturing how she views the world as a young woman from sexuality, youth to simply growing up. She not only uplifts women with her images, but also seeks to support other female creatives. At just age 17, she launched 'The Ardourous', an online collective of female artists. This came from being 'sick' of the way she was treated as a photographer. She wishes that female photographers received as much respect as men, stating that it is always the same 5 men who shoot all campaigns and covers.
Her success has led her to shoot for some of the most renowned brands in the world from Gucci to Adidas, and in 2017 she was named as one of Forbes's "30 under 30" list.
2. Ruth Ossai
Ruth Ossai is a Nigerian photographer who stays true to her roots with portraits inspired by traditional African studio sessions. She first got into photography when she was younger, snapping images of her family members and Nigeria to share with her other family in Yorkshire. She likes to do everything that a shoot needs from casting to making her own backdrops.
Ossai's aim is to celebrate and represent Nigeria, she describes Nigerian identity as "beautiful, effortless and powerful". When working for luxury fashion brands, she first has to question if it is supportive of her culture, or just for profit. She refuses to compromise her celebration of Nigerian culture for anyone or anything.
"It (fashion photography) doesn’t have to be perfect, it doesn’t have to be for a certain type of person, class, demographic, nor does it need to perpetuate elitist culture within fashion imagery’" - Ruth Ossai to The Guardian
Her inspiration derives from Nollywood films that she grew up watching - she describes the films as having lots of special effects, backdrops, and 'crazy Nigerian iconography' and had always wanted to take photos inspired by them since she was a child.
Ever since, she has made a name for herself in the fashion industry having worked for the likes of Rihanna, Nike, and Kenzo. Not only this, but she also spends time working to help young offenders get back into the education system.
To be continued… (1/2)
SOURCES:
Comments