Why do we need more women in photography? The answers are as diverse as the female photographers we asked the questions. To accompany our major photo story “Female Voices” in our summer issue, we asked the nine female photographers to share their own perspectives on photography as a (still) male-dominated sphere.
NATASHA WILSON
Why is it important that we see photos of women?
I believe that a photographer’s perspective varies from person to person. However, through the male gaze, women are often portrayed in images as sexy, provocative and confident – all sides of the same coin. While women embody these qualities, they are also resilient, empathetic, down-to-earth, poetic – the list goes on. We want to be perceived as more complex, but a male photographer may struggle to capture this side of us because he has never longed for these perspectives.
What do your eyes see that a man’s eyes don’t?
When I take a photo, I want to tell a story – one that links the subject and its surroundings. I want to evoke emotions, to create something that goes beyond the surface. I don’t just look at the body or the beauty of the subject. There is always more.
MATILDE GATTONI
Why is it important that we see photos of women?
Because 85 percent of the world’s photojournalists are men. This means that an overwhelming percentage of our visual historical record has been seen through the eyes of men. Women photographers feel and see the world from their own unique perspective. Thanks to their sensitivity, they capture moments that are invisible to the male eye. I believe that the most striking and captivating work today is created by female artists. To be noticed, they need to push the boundaries of contemporary art.
What do your eyes see that a man’s eyes don’t?
I believe that we have the ability to capture beauty in any situation, even under the worst human conditions. We have the sensitivity to tell intimate stories and delve into the deepest and most sensitive human conditions.
DÖRTE FITSCHEN-RATH
Why is it important that we see photos of women?
Photography has long been considered a male-dominated domain, partly due to the physical demands of the equipment and partly due to the technical reputation of the medium. Historically, these aspects have been labeled as “masculine”. Furthermore, holding a camera automatically puts the photographer in a position of power over the subject. In English, the process of image making is often described as “shooting” or “taking” an image – language that emphasizes the dynamics of control. In portrait photography in particular, the subject is at the mercy of the photographer, who must portray them with dignity and consent, which raises ethical questions of trust and agency.
Artists like Deana Lawson challenge this dynamic. Lawson often approaches strangers in public and then builds relationships with them to create mutual trust. As she says herself, “Many subjects have told me that they felt comfortable posing for my camera because I am a woman. I always feel honored and grateful that they let me approach them. I understand that it’s a privilege.” Her preferred medium, a large-format analog camera, requires a slower and more deliberate process and deepens her connection to her subjects. Artist Nan Goldin dissolves the traditional power structure by inserting herself into her images. She creates a level playing field, so to speak, and becomes both subject and creator, so that her works are “fragments of life lived”. The results are very personal and emotionally genuine photographs. A greater diversity of female artists broadens our collective perspective and opens our eyes to new ways of seeing. Representation in photography shapes our understanding of both the world and ourselves. Including more women behind the camera leads to a richer, more nuanced visual culture – one that fosters greater empathy, insight and inspiration.
What do your eyes see that a man’s eyes don’t?
When I look at a portrait of a woman taken by a man, I often see a performance of the subject. When I look at a portrait of a woman taken by a woman, I often see a vulnerability in the subject. But I ask myself: does this difference come from the eye itself or from the way we connect? To explore this, I focus on one particular area of portrait photography: the nude. Photographing nudes requires trust and is a dance between subject and photographer. As a heterosexual cisgender woman, I have photographed a variety of different people – women, including pregnant women, trans women, men, heterosexuals and homosexuals. Before each shoot, when I enter the room, I am aware of the sensitivity of the moment and proceed with empathy, making myself as vulnerable as my subject. Together we create a shared bubble of trust that enables authenticity rather than performance. Even with highly sexualized images, my goal is to convey intimacy and acknowledge the trust placed in me with deep gratitude.
However, I want to be wary of generalizations and not discredit men’s ability to connect or create an empathetic space. However, due to gender norms and a deep imprint of society, we enter the space from different starting points defined by our gender and identity when we photograph a nude or a portrait.
JULIA MARIE WERNER
Why is it important that we see photos of women?
It’s actually obvious. There is still inequality in the photography industry, both in terms of visibility and recognition of women’s work. The gender pay gap is still enormous. In 2022, according to the KSK (Artists’ Social Security Fund), female freelance artists in Germany earned 34 percent less than men. I think that says it all.
What do your eyes see that a man’s eyes don’t?
Such answers are always difficult for me because I don’t want to define visual perspective in gendered terms. Despite the influence of our cultural, social and historical backgrounds that have shaped us and may cause us to behave in stereotypical ways, we are all unique and have our own perspectives, regardless of gender. If you think in stereotypes, you could say that women have a more empathetic perspective… But I know male photographers who photograph with such sensitivity and gentleness.
I would say everyone photographs with their own perspective, their own beauty and their own story.
AMANDA FRIEDMAN
Why is it important that we see photos of women?
Representation in photography is important. Historically, the photography industry – and the art world in general – has been dominated by men, while women and many others have often been underrepresented. When women’s perspectives are shown, it broadens the range of stories and experiences we encounter and offers a greater diversity of narratives.
What do your eyes see that a man’s eyes don’t?
Everyone has a unique perspective, regardless of their gender. Generally speaking, my personal perspective is shaped more by my life experiences and my creative upbringing. Sure, my femininity plays a role, but I don’t think my gender has a huge impact on my perspective.
FION C.Y. HUNG
Why is it important that we see photos of women?
Historically, photography has been male-dominated and is therefore a tool that controls women by shaping their identities and social positions. It is important to look at what is happening in society from different angles.
What do your eyes see that a man’s eyes don’t?
As a member of a traditional Chinese family that is highly sexist, I have felt overlooked and unheard for many years. It is impossible for male family members to imagine how my sexual identity has caused me negative experiences, such as not being fully accepted by the family. The older generation believes that female family members are like objects who marry their husbands and become their property. Once they get married, they no longer belong to their original families. Therefore, I end up expressing my feelings and emotions through photography, which seems to me to be the only way to tell stories from my perspective. As a man, it would be impossible for me to understand gender issues and the morals and values of a traditional Chinese family from a woman’s perspective. One particular example is a series of paintings I created during my studies in London called “The Skeletons in the Closet”. In it, I question the Confucian concept of unconditional piety in Chinese families with the metaphor of a series of Chinese folk tales called “24 Paragons of Filial Piety”.
GABRIELA ALATORRE
Why is it important that we see photos of women?
To see the whole picture. To create space for more forms of attention. To have the freedom to see with eyes that were not always allowed to look openly. To uncover silent, uncomfortable truths.
What do your eyes see that a man’s eyes don’t?
I think this is something that should be explored through practice rather than theory. Relying on binary notions of gendered perception can easily lead to stereotypes and polarizations that limit the narratives of women and the way we perceive ourselves. For me, it’s not just about what we see, but also about the places from which we see or speak. For example, when we describe the female gaze as inherently more sensitive, it reinforces a stereotype of femininity that we need to challenge. The female gaze can also be sharp, rational and harsh. And in recent years, working with my partner, I have found that the male gaze can also be deeply sensitive, vulnerable and subtle, if men allow themselves to inhabit these spaces too.
DJENEBA ADUAYOM
Why is it important that we see photos of women?
It is crucial to see more photographs by women, because the diversity of perspectives enriches our collective visual language. Women often perceive the world differently and experience it through a lens shaped by different societal expectations and life experiences. Women often take photographs out of a relationship and not out of pure observation. You have to imagine how limited our visual understanding becomes when we mainly see from a dominant perspective. As more women photograph, we expand the visual language we all share. We bring to light narratives that might otherwise remain hidden. The result isn’t just more diverse images – it’s a richer, truer representation of our interconnected reality.
What do your eyes see that a man’s eyes don’t?
I don’t like to make sweeping generalizations about what all women see and what all men see, as individual perspectives are very different regardless of gender. However, my experiences as a woman have probably shaped what I notice and how I categorize what I see.
I may be more sensitive to certain moments of vulnerability or connection that are sometimes overlooked. I may notice the small gestures between people, the unspoken dynamics in social situations, or the emotional meaning that lies in seemingly ordinary scenes. This is not because men can’t see these things, but because my experiences have taught me to look for them. Photography for me is not about representing a perspective exclusive to women, but rather about contributing my particular voice to a richer collective visual vocabulary. Most important to me is the authenticity with which I see and capture the world, influenced by all aspects of my personality, including – but not limited to – my experiences as a woman.
LOIS COHEN
What do your eyes see that a man’s eyes don’t?
Sometimes it annoys me that we deal with gender so much, but then I see that the male gaze still dominates. My work has always been more feminine, and recently it has become even more vulnerable. I believe that women are often more complex. Our advantage is that we dig deeper into our emotions and deal with them.
You can see more photos of the artists here.
You can snap up high-quality, limited edition prints by the photographers at White Label Project.
Teaser: © Amanda Friedman, Gabriela Alatorre, Matilde Gattoni
