Imagine for a second what this world would look like without women…Can you actually picture it? It’s unfathomable.
Even still, in 2022, institutions as seemingly fluid and open as the art world still reject practices that would ensure equality and representation for all types of gender-identifying people.
That’s why women making waves in the art world must be celebrated beyond Women’s History Month.
According to a recently published PetaPixel article which cited data from a 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, despite representation exponentially increasing for women in the professional photography industry, they still don’t have equal pay, consistent bylines, or chosen new opportunities, and/or half as much industry support.
The article stated, “Women photographers account for almost half of working photographers…but they earn, on average, 40% less than their male counterparts. Similarly, it was found that less than 25% of the commercial photographers represented by the industry’s leading agents are female.”
To hear what it’s really like to be a professional female photographer today, we hosted a candid conversation with Callena Williams, The Dallas Cowboys’ Team Photographer, Cydney Scott, Boston University’s Staff Photographer, and Marguerite Schropp-Lucarelli, Sports Illustrated’s Director of Photography and they shared a full spectrum of anecdotes and advice.
Tune in below, and then catch more motivating words from women in photography after the jump:
Inspired by a creative campaign created by Chanelle Smith-Walker for National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we asked our guest speakers and a few other professional photographers what wise words they would have told their younger selves to stay motivated and help them persevere through a male-dominated industry.
Read what they shared below and pass these words of motivation on to a creative who needs to hear it!
What I Wish I Knew As A Young Female Photographer
Callena Williams
“Stop comparing yourself to the photographers around you. Remember social media only tells one side of the story. You are hardworking, determined and your refusal to settle is inspiring…whether you know it or not.”
Cydney Scott
“Find a trick for remembering people’s names. You’re terrible at it. You will continue to be terrible at it, but figure it out. Humans matter, and remembering someone’s name is a way of showing it.”
Marguerite Schropp-Lucarelli
“DREAM BIG. Never stop dreaming of your ultimate career goal. Place yourself in a positive position to grow and succeed which allows you to work towards your dream.”
Marguerite Schropp, Jack McCallum, Chris Ballard, Steve Wertheim
New York, NY 18-OCT-2002
X67082 take 1
CREDIT: Heinz Kluetmeier
Elsa Garrison
“When I started, in the mid-1990s, there were very few women shooting sports exclusively. Often I would be the only woman on the sideline working as a photographer. There were only a few women working as team photographers and I would see women covering sports in major cities. Now when I am at the ballpark or on the sideline, I see a lot more women working for newspapers, wire services, and team photographers. It is true that women still make up significantly less in terms of the number of photographers working in sports, but change is slow. When I started out, I would often feel out of place and very alone but now when I cover an event and look around, I feel like I might possibly belong here. I hope by all of us taking up space in sports that we too can feel like we belong.” Follow her work on Instagram and Twitter.
Kathryn Riley
“In regards to beating the bias, I think that one of the most important things that we can do as female photographers is uplift other women in our industry. I have been extremely lucky to have had and continue to have strong female mentorship. Without the women who came before me, I would not be where I was today. I hope I can someday do what they have done for me, for others- especially women. I also think that it is important to not get discouraged. This will be my 6th year in the industry as a professional, and I am just starting to feel somewhat accomplished. (emphasis on somewhat)!!!! so do not be discouraged if you aren’t where you want to be after 2,3,4, or even more years. I wish I could offer wisdom/advice, but I am also looking for that wisdom /advice myself.”
Related Content: Shout-Outs: Women in Sports Photography We Admire
Here’s what professional women photographers on Twitter said…
For women who’ve forged through a male-dominated industry to be seen, heard, and hired, two wise sentiments remain constant: 1) Don’t sacrifice who you are for a job and 2) Lifting others up along the way always comes back around.
Do those statements ring true to you in your career? If you’re a woman in photography, reply to our tweet and tell us what you’ve learned along the way!
