Celebrating Female Portrait Photographers of our time

ANNIE LEIBOVITS John Lennon and Yoko Ono, 1980

It’s woman’s month and I would like to take this blog to celebrate the female portrait photographers that inspire me.  From the groundbreaking in their time to the current hot and happening, woman bring to the table something that is unique and powerful.

My biggest inspiration since I was a student in photographer has been Annie Leibovitz.  Her intimacy  and creativity in each portrait has been something I still aspire to.  Annie is an American portrait photographerprobably the world’s best-known photographer of the famous, with a portfolio that stretches from presidents to pop stars, from a Vanity Fair cover of a naked, pregnant Demi Moore to an anniversary portrait of the Queen.

ZANELE MUHOLI Ntozakhe II, Parktown, 2016

Secondly let’s celebrate local!  Zanele Muholi is a visual activist working in photography, and I was totally blown away by his powerful female portraits, and the way in which he brought them to life. Many of his works dive deep into emotional and personal experiences, and I always think that makes the image result that more authentic. The world started recognising Zanele in 2012 and she is currently on exhibition at the Tate modern, such an amazing achievement for this South African photographer.

Another female photographer with a long list of celebrities under her belt is American photographer and fine-artist Jill Greenberg.  Greenberg is known for her known for her distinct and stylized portraits of animals children and celebrities.  Her clients include Rolling Stone, Time, GQ and Dreamworks amongst many.

JILL GREENBERG, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 2017

Then from the well know to the you should know… Lisa Kristine is an American humanitarian photographer, activist, and speaker. Her photography has documented indigenous cultures and social causes, such as modern slavery, in more than 100 countries. Through her work, Kristine has supported numerous charities and humanitarian organizations.

LISA KRISTINE, Duality Ethiopia

CASS BIRD, Barack & Michelle Obama

Another inspiring celebrity photographer is Cass Bird.  I just love her relaxed style as if capturing people in an exciting yet flattering way is as easy as breathing to her. Bird is a artist photographer and director living and working in New York City and a contributor to Vogue magazine. She photographer former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in such a tender honest why that I had to include her in my selection.

RINEKE DIJKSTRA, Kolobrzeg, Poland July 1992

I want to finish with one more of my ultimate favourites and show you the subtlety of Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra.  Her portraits of adolescents on the brink of adulthood captured on beaches from Hilton Head, South Carolina to Poland and Ukraine captured my attention.  She had a way to capture these young adults in this confusing transition, where confidence is mixed with insecurity.  I always found an honesty in her portraits, from the Israeli solders to young adults of Portugal.

In an industry that was dominated by men it is so welcoming to see these power house photographers making waves, creating art and connecting.