A Shared Vision: Black Women Photographers
As part of the column ‘Women by Women: A Shared Vision,’ Vogue had a conversation with Polly Irungu, founder of Black Women Photographers.
The aim of BWP is not only to give visibility to creatives, but also to help secure financial stability and provide educational resources. PhotoVogue sat down with Polly to learn more about the organisation, how it is structured, and how it’s possible to support our work.
Photo Credit: Jada Imani M
Featured Members
Note: This list rotates monthly. Request access to the directory HERE.
Grace Hoppel - Cleveland, Ohio
Kiara James - Bowie, Maryland
Adedoyin Aderomola - Lagos, Nigeria
Maria J Hackett - New York, New York
Anitah Diggs - Phoenix, Arizona
Alicia Cypress - Port St Lucie, Florida
The BWP Summit
Over the past four years, The Black Women Photographers Summit has grown into an essential space for connection, learning, and growth. It has become the go-to 100% free summit for Black and African women creatives around the world.
Thanks to the continued support of Adobe Lightroom, the 2025 Summit was our most impactful yet, featuring inspiring conversations, free portfolio reviews, and valuable networking opportunities with both established and emerging creatives.
The Essentials
Welcome to The Essentials, our free webinar series in collaboration with our partners The Everyday Projects and Photo Wings!
Each class is 75 minutes long, including lots of time for Q&A, and is for both emerging and experienced storytellers wanting to hone their skills and learn more about successfully navigating the visual media industry.
Just a few of the brands that have used our global directories to hire. #HireBlackWomenPhotographers
Celebrating Five Years of Black Women Photographers
As a young freelance photographer, Polly Irungu quickly grew tired of excuses from editors and brands about why they were not hiring more (or any) Black women. “The two things I heard the most were: ‘We don’t know where to find Black women photographers’ and ‘We want to work with people we already know’,” Irungu says. “There were also some misguided assumptions that Black photographers were not versatile enough or they only specialised in certain topics. These excuses reflected a systemic issue, rather than an actual lack of talent or opportunities.”
Tune in to BWP’s First Podcast: Photographer Life Check
Join Qurissy on Photographer Life Check, a podcast all about the art of photography and the people who bring it to life. Step behind the camera as image makers share their stories, challenges, and triumphs, exploring the creative highs, obstacles, and the passion that fuels their journeys.
