About Black Women Photographers

Black Women Photographers (BWP) is committed to dismantling the barriers that make it difficult to discover and commission Black creatives. Our mission is to serve as a powerful resource for industry gatekeepers, ensuring that Black and African women creatives receive the recognition, visibility, and professional opportunities they deserve.

Founded in July 2020 by Polly Irungu, BWP is a global community, directory, and support hub with over 2,100 Black and African creatives across more than 60 countries and 35 U.S. states. What began with a Black Women Photographers COVID-19 Relief Fund to support Black photographers facing financial hardship during the pandemic has since grown into the largest provider of grants, resources, and gear for Black and African women creatives. To date, BWP has awarded over $185,000 in financial grants and provided an additional $60,000 in cutting-edge camera equipment to help empower our members. 

At BWP, we strive to create a thriving ecosystem where Black photographers, videographers, and cinematographers can not only gain recognition but also secure paid work. We support our members through a robust and actively maintained database shared with brands, producers, photo editors, photo directors, curators, and art buyers, ensuring their ability to be seen and hired. 

In addition to our directory, we offer FREE tools and educational resources—including an annual BWP Summit, webinars, workshops, trainings, portfolio reviews, and networking events—to help our members continue growing and thriving in their careers. With an annual $50K grant fund in partnership with Nikon, an annual grant with SmugMug and Flickr, regular professional development and funding opportunities, and both virtual and in-person events, BWP is dedicated to increasing access to paid and professional opportunities for Black creatives worldwide.

Black Women Photographers is more than a platform—it's a movement committed to advancing the work of Black and African women visual artists and ensuring they are seen, valued, and empowered in the creative industry. 

Instagram: @blackwomenphotographers Twitter: @BlkWomenPhoto

Hashtags:  #BlackWomenPhotographers and #HireBlackWomenPhotographers

Featured Press: https://blackwomenphotographers.com/press 

If you would like to join our FREE community, apply here.

Check out what current members have to say here.

Check out our recent press here.

Support our work here.