Today, on World Photography Day, we want to put the spotlight on 11 incredible Black women photographers who you should know and follow.
All of these women are a part of the newly-formed Black Women Photographers community, a global community and database of Black women and non-binary photographers. The group was founded by Polly Irungu, a journalist and self-taught photographer based in Brooklyn, New York.
1. KaiYanna T. Washington aka Kai Tsehay.
Kai is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, and New York City. She has photographed some celebrities that you may have heard of including Killer Mike, Trouble, 2 Chainz, Mike Will Made-It, Michelle Williams, Amiyah Scott, and Dinah Jane. Kai’s work can also be seen on Westside Gunn’s ‘Fly God Is An Awesome God 2’ album, as she shot the cover for it, and she is a featured photographer in The Trap Music Museum.
- Work: https://www.kaitsehay.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitsehay/
2. Vonecia Carswell
Vonecia is currently based in New York City where she specializes in commercial, editorial, and portrait photography. She got her first taste of story-driven work at the age of 10 after she finally convinced her grandmother to let her work the camcorder at a family reunion. Since then, she has been fully immersed in the art of storytelling.
3. Dawn Kirkpatrick
Hailing from Chicago, Dawn is a photojournalist based in Los Angeles, California. Her black and white photography of everyday life in Los Angeles will have you wanting to move to the city.
- Work: https://www.dawnkirkpatrickphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawnkirkpatrick/
4. Cynthia Gooden
Cynthia is an Atlanta-based photographer who specializes in portraiture, editorial and event photography. We love the way she captures a person’s personality.
5. Schaun Champion
Schaun is a natural light photographer, filmmaker, and instructor based in Baltimore. Her work specializes in portraiture, fine art, and cultural documentary work.
- Work: https://schaunchampion.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schaunchampion/
6. Alexus Brown
Alexus is a fashion photographer based in North Carolina. Her work specializes in stunning beauty, fashion, and editorial work.
7. Karis Beaumont
Karis is a Jamaican-British photographic artist.
- Work: https://www.karisbeaumont.com/
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/karisbeau
8. Kaniz Sheikh
Kaniz is a photojournalist based in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Work: https://bykanizsheikh.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2zinak/
9. Iju Asonibe
Iju is a Dubai-based photographer.
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withlovefromiju/
10. Patrice Fisher
Patrice Fisher is a photographer based in Los Angeles, California. She specializes in nature, macro, abstract, and composite. If it were not for COVID-19, she would have crossed off the last two continents on her bucket list.
11. Polly Irungu
Based out of Brooklyn, New York, Polly Irungu is a self-taught photographer. Her artwork consists of portraits and lifestyle photos that draw attention to important issues like the Black Lives Matter movement. Polly also uses her journalism background to support and showcase other Black female photographers by adding them to the Black Women Photographers database that she created.
