Dear Vogue, Here Are 8 Female Fashion Photographers You Should Consider Hiring

Dear Vogue,

It was Sunday evening, 4:46 pm Irish time when the first ping came through to my phone: Mario Testino And Bruce Weber Accused Of Sexual Assault. Once my anger subsided slightly, I felt a wave of regret for all the time I’ve invested in admiring their work. Such is the general feeling of late once a new name is etched onto the growing list of the accused.

I wasn’t surprised about Weber given rumours of his predacious workplace practices. But Testino is different. His power and authority in the fashion industry are – were – unrivalled. His tight-knit circle of friends, including Anna Wintour, Franca Sozzani and practically every high-profile celebrity, granted him the keys to the universe. These were the visionaries, the ambitious, the noble of the creative world. But does all this matter when ego reigns supreme?

Why is fashion, of all places, still a man’s world? It doesn’t make sense to me.

These men have had their chance, and now it’s our turn. So, I’m choosing to put aside my anger and instead channel it towards helping you, now that you have two creative spots to fill. Below are nine incredible international women photographers – some Irish included – who have already proven their worth and should be on your books.

Mary McCartney

Older sister of Stella and daughter of Linda McCartney – heiress to Kodak – Mary’s photography and motion work has focused on discovering those rare moments of unguarded, emotionally charged intimacy that offer the viewer a different insight into her work. Her esteemed work ‘Marylin Saved My Life‘, where she reveals the face behind the mask of a Marylin Monroe impersonator comes to mind. McCartney’s work has been featured in Vogue before as well as AnOther Magazine, The V&A Museum, Somerset House and Monochrome/Colour to name a few.

Alice Hawkins

Her work can be seen in LOVE, i-D, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and Vanity Fair, yet Alice Hawkins is not yet a household name. Her aesthetically driven eye has rewarded her work with some of the world’s biggest brands and fashion houses including Versace, Paloma Faith and Sophie Cooper. Her work is sexy, without being exploitative, and explosive with colour and texture.

Barbara Anastacio

Only in her early 30s, Barbara Anastacio has already made huge contributions to fashion photography. Her growing personal portfolio, along with ad work for Versace, Burberry, and Prada, displays the mastery of her craft and attention to colour and detail. Should you need a videographer, she will fit the bill too; having worked on a much-loved, highly-accredited video series with Nowness where her lens captured the fascinating world of people and their homes (including Florence Welsh and Kelis).

Emma Summerton

There’s something incredibly alluring about Emma Summerton’s work. The Australian has built a super rapport with industry creatives. Her work has previously appeared in Vogue Italia, W Magazine, Topshop, Dazed & Confused, Self Service, Purple, 10 Magazine, British Vogue, Anna Sui, Max and Co, Jaeger, Yves Saint Laurent, Miu Miu, Ballentyne and Strenesse to name a few. I, for one, would love to see more of her.

Annie Leibovitz

A true icon, Annie Leibovitz’ work is world-renowned. Having started her career in the 1970’s working for Rolling Stone Magazine, she quickly mastered her craft and became chief photographer for Rolling Stone in a mere three years. Leibovitz went on to create several award-winning advertising campaigns in Vanity Fair and Vogue, as well as creating her otherworldly editorial campaigns. Many of her images have a huge place in our culture today, including the December 8th 1980 image of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, five hours before he was shot and killed.

Taine King

Taine King is one of Ireland’s most prominent emerging fashion photographers and cinematographers. Her growing portfolio is a testament to her level of skill and proficiency. Her published work has appeared in i-D Magazine, Sheeba, MFI Magazine, Weekend Magazine, Irish Tatler, The Irish Times, The Irish, Independent, The Sunday Business Post, The Prowlster, and Primark to name but a few. Being recognised for her individual style, along with her ambition and industry experience Táine was nominated for photographer of the year at the Irish Innovation Awards last year and has been selected for i-D Magazine’s top 25 creatives of 2015.

Sarah Doyle

Sarah Doyle is a Dublin-based photographer who has already built up a reputable repertoire of clients despite her young age. Her portfolio includes photography from Brown Thomas, Universal Music, Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, and Urban Outfitters and she has been featured in The Irish Times, Time Europe/US, and Vogue. This creative lady cleverly manipulates colour, texture and silhouettes in such a way that her photographs appear hypnotising. Her work is colourful, confrontational, and full of narrative

Suzy McCanny

Suzy’s photography journey began after studying fashion at prestigious St. Martins in London. After, she followed her desire for photography to New York where she continued her studies in Fashion Styling and Photography at The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Working from her studio in London, Suzy now specialises in fashion and art photography and continues to master her craft while working with some of Irelands biggest fashion brands including Atlantic Equipment Project, Magee 1866, and Rogue Eyewear.