Why Is There Sexism in Editorial Photography?

68 Comments

1. Beth Lang

   September 16, 2013 at 10:52 am

   An interesting list,…. but it would be a more accurate list if it DID NOT include the names of Female photographers who are not shooting and haven’t been working in the last 10 years or more; and still others that have left the industry.
   Maybe consider the numerous female photographer whom have been making a name for themselves during the last 10 years, ” And Killing It”, but have yet to gain the exposure and notoriety the truly deserve.
   This list reeks of favoritism and reveals the same politics being perpetrated by women that we women accuse men of.

   • Link
   • A Photo EditorModerator

     September 16, 2013 at 12:21 pm

     why not just include the names of those photographers instead of complaining about her list?

     • Link
2. Albert

   September 16, 2013 at 11:34 am

   Having assisted many of the women you mention in your 5th paragraph, and a number in the long list, perhaps one reason “SOME” women photographers do not get hired is because they do not know how to work their own equipment or how to do their own lighting.
   MAYBE, just maybe, clients would rather work with photographers that DO NOT need a hand-full of photo assistants or lighting technicians to create the lighting that they: the photographer was hired to do.
   “Do you really think that this fact goes unnoticed.?”

   And while were on the subject…
   Some of ,…. many of the women on your list are sexist and ONLY hire men.
   And when things do not go well on set they become abusive.
   NO One deserves this working in a “professional” environment.
   Neither clients or crew members want to or will work with people like that.

   This all based on years of assisting women, and seeing things first hand.

   Perhaps Erin Patrice O’Brien would have a greater insight had she assisted longer or asked more questions of those working in the industry longer than she has.

   • Link
   • A Photo EditorModerator

     September 16, 2013 at 12:19 pm

     This is a photographer perpetuated myth: “clients would rather work with photographers that DO NOT need a hand-full of photo assistants or lighting technicians to create the lighting that they: the photographer was hired to do.”

     Clients don’t care.

     • Link
     • Albert

       September 16, 2013 at 1:37 pm

       Rob,
       Know your an Editorial guy, so not sure what your on-set commercial or advertising experiences have been. On more than one occasion while I was an assistant several art directors after seeing me do all of the lighting, answering their questions, doing the test shots, would ask me to show them my book “during the photographers shoot”. I respectfully declined but took their business cards and stayed in touch.
       When I began shooting I contacted those art directors, and now those clients that were the photographers I had worked with are now my clients.
       “Smoke and mirrors and a talented team will only take you so far and then you ‘the photographer’ will actually have to do the job.”

       Again based upon my past experiences:
       If a photographer is billing $10,000 a day or more, the client/art director really appreciate it when the photographer at least pretends to know his equipment, the lighting and has at least some sense of what he’s doing on set.

       • Link
       • Chris

         September 16, 2013 at 2:53 pm

         I have to agree with Albert – I don’t shoot editorial, I shoot commercials and started as a DP shooting films and TV ads. I’m now primarily working as a commercial photographer shooting complex shots requiring compositing work (I do all the post as well). If you clearly don’t know what you’re doing, you don’t get hired in that world. I got a lot of big gigs in my early 20’s because I had a reputation for knowing what I was doing. It inspires confidence in the client. Other factors come into play as well, like personality, but only after you have proven you’re technically competent.

         • Link
       • A Photo EditorModerator

         September 16, 2013 at 2:59 pm

         there are $100,000 a day commercial photographers who don’t even press the button. how do you explain that?

         clients hire photographers to make pictures. who cares how they get it done? some yes, but as a rule, no. there are plenty of successful commercial photographers (that also work editorially) who simply hire the right people.

         • Link
         • Albert

           September 16, 2013 at 3:37 pm

           Hey Rob,
           The explanation is very simple, the client and the art directors don’t know any better!
           But trust me, they learn very quickly.

           If all your looking for is someone to make pictures you can grab a tourist with an iPhone off Broadway in times square and get pictures.
           IF your looking for someone to create images that can not only stand the test of time but sell your product, then you need to hire a photographer.

           I guess it comes down to whether
           “You” want a Photographer, or You’d rather hire a talented Art Director that sits behind or next to a camera, puts on a great ‘Dog & Pony show’.

           Clearly your statement: “…who cares how they get it done? ”
           Is indicative of that fact that you would rather be entertained with the smoke and mirrors rather than work with a professional that brings skill and craftsmanship to the job that he was hired for.

           You are absolutely correct. There are “Photographers” who don’t even push the button for $10K and more. I worked with them.
           In fact there are dozens of instances that as the assistant: I pre-produced the job, attended the client meetings to discuss the job, logistics, and sets,. On the day of the shoot I did the lighting, adjusted the sets, worked directly with the stylists picking clothes, shoes, etc. , Composed the images, did the light tests, shot the days final images, edited the film and or digital files, and presented the job to the client.

           A perfect example is the Terry Richardson circus that so many see as “New & Freash”.
           Fluffer’s on set for himself and his crew, images of models giving him blow-jobs, his incessant sexual harassment of models, not to mention the harsher events that we can’t discuss here, and his crappy on-camera flash images will only last until the clients grow up and realize that the emperor has no clothes. Then he too will go the disappear just as Dah Lan, and so many others have done over the years.

           So if you Rob, really feel that it does not matter how the images get created, than why not hire a second year F.I.T or S.V.A. student for the next job that you or one of your associates are hired for, and give them a budget to hire those that can help them get the job done?

           • Link
           • Assistant

             September 16, 2013 at 7:01 pm

             You made it all about you and your male-privileged experiences. You clearly can’t see the point of the article: Try to challenge your preconceived notions and expectations of gender, as pertained to this industry.

             Please, keep making a fool of yourself.

             • Link
             • Michael S

               September 17, 2013 at 1:31 am

               Don’t be a douche.

               • Link
           • A Photo EditorModerator

             September 16, 2013 at 7:50 pm

             The world is full of camera/lighting technicians who churn out banal shitty images. Creativity is more important. Also, you’ve got to be kidding me with your self importance in this digital age. Photographers used to be chemists…

             My point, which you are now attempting to turn into something about bad photographers who abuse assistants and some BS about entertainment, is that there are plenty of successful photographers who are not as technical and clients who will hire them.

             The larger issue in the context of sexism is that men probably fare better when looking like they don’t know what’s going on.

             • Link
             • Michael S

               September 17, 2013 at 1:43 am

               For a professional who’s trying to create a forum for discussion and learning, you get really defensive when people share their opinions based on personal experience.

               Here’s the problem as I see it, and it’s not only in this field, but in other fields like bartending and other industries where grunt labor tends to be a precursor to making it.

               Photo assistants, barbacks, food runners, lighting people/grips (theatre/film) tend to have to do very tough menial grunt work as they “apprentice.” Lifting very heavy things, working extremely long hours and having to put up with verbally abusive people above them.

               Historically, women haven’t been doing these jobs, but with progress, comes a lot of women in high power positions who have never done the grunt labor that was a right of passage in the fields.

               When I come across women who did do the grunt work, and earned their stripes like their male counterparts, they are highly respected in the field. They tend to respect their day laborers more, speaking to them with respect and empathy. They tend to pay (or tip out) more because they can relate to the work their assistants are doing. They teach instead of yell, and are overall pleasant to work for (generally).

               I’m not going to try to pretend I know where the next step of the equal rights movement will lead us, but this is something I think will need to be addressed for us as artists to move forward with getting women more work.

               • Link
               • A Photo EditorModerator

                 September 17, 2013 at 10:50 am

                 Actually I’m rolling my eyes at the thought of an assistant telling us how they setup the lights and camera and did all the work for some well known photographer. Never heard that one before…

                 • Link
           • Heather Bowman

             September 16, 2013 at 11:55 pm

             Terry Richardson is new and fresh?

             • Link
             • Donnor Party

               September 17, 2013 at 3:23 pm

               He he.

               • Link
         • Chris

           September 16, 2013 at 3:41 pm

           I actually somewhat agree with your last comment about hiring the right people. They are simply directing the crew, however every DP I know that is successful goes threw a period of doing all the work themselves, to eventually directing a crew when the jobs start to become larger and beyond the scope of a one man operation. At the end of the day, they are there because they actually can do, or are knowlegable of, all the directed activities themselves. Keep in mind the title “Director of Photography” – Directing is a big part of the job. How do you direct lens selection if you know nothing about lenses? Being a commercial photographer isn’t any different, despite lacking the term “Director” in the tittle. The more you know, the better you can direct and it’s very apparent to anyone on a set. When it appears that the Gaffer or first assistant is really directing all the work – and you’re supposed to be the one taking credit for direction, you look bad. People do notice. So yes and no – you do need to know what your doing, but you don’t always have to be the guy “pressing the button”.

           • Link
           • Albert

             September 16, 2013 at 4:00 pm

             This too all depends on whether we are speaking about still photography or film/video.

             • Link
     • Donnor Party

       September 16, 2013 at 2:19 pm

       So right.

       • Link
3. Tim Roper

   September 16, 2013 at 11:42 am

   How could the documentary list leave out Ami Vitale? She’s a big voice in bringing a female perspective to documentary work (both in her pictures, and her interviews, where she doesn’t shy away from it).

   • Link
4. CJH

   September 16, 2013 at 12:00 pm

   as a male photographer living in this century I also:

   “When I get a call for a shoot, usually my first call is not to secure an assistant, but to make sure I have childcare coverage. I live in a community where I know other parents that are able to pick up my daughter if my shoot runs late or even have her sleep over. I feel blessed to make a living as a photographer. I love what I do.

   And those skills of being able to manage a business, a household and a child are things that have taught me to troubleshoot and always be prepared for surprises that require solutions. I know that if an assistant, stylist or babysitter doesn’t show up I will still be able to do the job.”

   its fucking hard being a photographer…and I empathize with women in situations like this…but lets not generalize the roles of all. Every person has unique opportunity to exploit the best of themselves (and their access or lack thereof for that matter) to make something amazing…its being done everyday, especially today.

   • Link
5. Lynn Donaldson

   September 16, 2013 at 1:27 pm

   Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg is speaking live as I type this at the Montana Job Summit on this very issue…it’s GREAT! Watch live: http://montanajobssummit.com/live/ She’s on til I think 12PM MST or maybe 12:15.

   • Link
6. Lynn Donaldson

   September 16, 2013 at 1:27 pm

   …if they post it on YouTube later I”ll share the link.

   • Link
7. Oscar Avellaneda-Cruz

   September 16, 2013 at 2:24 pm

   Erin you are spot on about women and men getting different results from their subjects. One reason for this is that as men we are socialized differently than women which has a direct affect on our communication and the way we interact with our subjects. What’s fascinating about this conversation, is that gender is just the tip of the iceberg when you consider culture, class, age and even the education level of the photographer and subject. Anyone of those variables is what makes us who we are and why we get totally different results from one another.

   From my assisting days in the corporate world, I can recall an incredibly awkward sexist remark the male photographer made with the hope that their female subject would come to life and perform according to their understanding of the world. On an editorial shoot, the urban photographer didn’t understand how to engage with the subject who grew up in a rural village outside of the US. The photographer had a harder time achieving the result they wanted not so much because of a language barrier, but rather the subjects cultural associations surrounding having their photograph made.

   My hope is that photo buyers, clients and photo editors become more cognizant about these dynamics. Here’s two of my fave female photographers:

   Photojournalist Aga Luczakowska :: http://www.agaluczakowska.com/

   Lee Grant :: http://leegrant.net/

   • Link
8. Bob Croslin

   September 16, 2013 at 3:13 pm

   As the father of daughter who is soon to make her way out into the world (and likely in a creative field) your perspective on this issue is very enlightening. It’s so easy to lose sight of the part gender plays in our daily interactions with the people who do the hiring. Over the last few years I’ve also noticed the sheer number of female photo editors and the lack of female AD’s and CD’s in the magazine world. If anything, it seems like a handful of talented female editors I’ve worked with have hit the glass ceiling and quit the business in frustration. With that said, I have to say that the list of photo editors that you feel have supported you and hire equally also happen to just be really great at their jobs. I’ve worked for more than half the women on that list and every one of them have been an absolute joy to work with. I think much of how you feel about them has to do with how well they do their job no matter what gender the photographer is.

   • Link
9. Dan

   September 16, 2013 at 3:14 pm

   I’m a white make hetero photographer. I got my degree in photography in NYC. My fellow students were different genders, races, and sexual orientations. We got along great. Then I assisted, my fellow assistants were the same as my classmates — a bit more males. Why more males? Probably because as a generalization guys are more into the nuts and bolts of the equipment. I assisted photographers of all varieties. And guess what? In terms of working for, some of the guys were cool and some weren’t, some of the women were cool and some weren’t some of the sexual orientations were cool and some weren’t. Now, when it came to so-called superstars, the younger ones were much less cool to work for than the older ones. In fact, the best people to work for were over 50 — they were more generous, more knowledgeable, and kinder.

   When I opened my own studio, I hired assistants who were guys, gals, straights, queers, and people from any race. Most of the time over the phone. I would ask them some questions about photography, what equipment they knew how to operate, and who they had worked with. And guess what, my satisfaction or dissatisfaction with any of the assistants had nothing to do with their sex, race or orientation.

   My point is this article is offensive. Offensive to guys? No, offensive to women. A good photographer is a good photographer. Any good photographer can relate to, understand, communicate with, and make a good photograph of someone from any background and in any situation. To say that women should make a point of showing hiring preference to other women is offensive.

   Of course it’s only human nature to be more comfortable with the familiar. And of course everyone should be mindful of how the familiar might make them filter others for the simple reason that it’s not nice to mess with another person’s ability to earn a living.

   That said, when will there be a nice article about being kind to white male photographers over the age of 50 who are evidently fair game for being discriminated against? We need the work to help provide for the women in our life, and to have something to leave them after our rapidly approaching demise.

   • Link
   • Robin Black

     September 23, 2013 at 4:24 pm

     I love it when a man tells me I should be offended by something.

     As I’ve already mentioned below, this is an ENORMOUS problem for female landscape and nature photographers. This subset of photography also overlooks a LOT of phenomenally talented (male) minority landscape/nature photographers, too. It’s a real problem.

     • Link
     • Brendan

       October 3, 2013 at 2:37 am

       Firstly as a male, I’m not overly pleased with being told that my clients should hold a preference for women either. There shouldn’t be a bias, but shaming anyone who doesn’t actively seek out photographers based on gender isn’t any better.

       Secondly, the fact that Dan has a penis, shouldn’t affect the validity of his opinion. That’s a very tired argument and you didn’t even bother to address anything he said.

       • Link
10. Alan Matthews

    September 16, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    In a perfect world, the gender of the photographer should not matter. If the photographer a) makes great images, b) can be an all around easy person to work with and c) delivers on time the contracted images/video that’s all that truly matters. I’ve worked with male and female assistants (each with their own strengths and weaknesses not according to their gender) and worked for male and female photo editors (including aforementioned Kerry Brady who is awesome!) and truthfully gender never really has mattered to me. I only care about competence and congeniality from everyone.

    • Link
11. Ajay Malghan

    September 16, 2013 at 6:04 pm

    The documentary list doesn’t include Kael Alford.
    http://kaelalford.sites.livebooks.com

    • Link
12. Ryan Loewy

    September 16, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    So you’re saying that people should be hired based on their gender rather than their ability to make intriguing content? Makes sense.

    • Link
    • Stan B.

      September 17, 2013 at 2:00 am

      I’m betting she’s saying that people should be hired based on their ability to make intriguing content, rather than their gender. Makes a lot more sense.

      • Link
13. Stan B.

    September 16, 2013 at 10:53 pm

    Erin, I empathize and wish you all the luck. FWIW however, I can guarantee (from experience) had I been standing next to you- they would definitely have recognized you as the photographer before this male. Women are still disproportionately represented and respected (as in most fields). But the numbers of Black and Hispanic photographers, editors, judges and gallery owners have a considerably longer way to go before reaching even those proportional percentages. Keep pluggin’…

    • Link
14. Monica

    September 17, 2013 at 12:19 am

    Great article, Erin. Another phenomenal female who deserves a spot on this list is Claire Weiss! http://www.day19.com

    • Link
15. Doesn't Matter

    September 17, 2013 at 10:58 am

    I empathize with female photographers who feel like they’re being overlooked. There’s only ONE “successful”, “major” female photographer in my local market.

    Thanks Stan B. for being the first one to mention Black and Hispanic photographers. I’m a Black photographer in the Midwest who rarely receives work in my region. What’s up with that?

    Not bragging, but my portfolio is on par with the rest of the photographers in the region. I promote myself, and I do agency portfolio showings regularly – yet I don’t receive as much work as my “competitors” (you have to be in the game to compete).

    Let’s have a REAL discussion about the “good-ole-boy” network. I can share some great stories.

    • Link
    • Stan B.

      September 17, 2013 at 6:16 pm

      Oh… THAT discussion (the one guaranteed to be the loudest- and go nowhere the fastest).

      • Link
16. fran Liscio

    September 17, 2013 at 11:16 am

    Wonderful post, great lists….may I add one more name? My friend Claire Rosen:
    http://www.clairerosenphoto.com/#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=1&a=2&at=0

    • Link
17. Peter Bohler

    September 17, 2013 at 11:51 am

    Also:

    Stephanie Gonot
    http://www.stephaniegonot.com/

    • Link
18. John Loomis

    September 17, 2013 at 11:53 am

    Carolyn Drake – carolyndrake.com
    Long since been one of my favorite photographers

    An important issue, and I’m very appreciative that some have already brought up the awful under-representation of minority photographers in our industry as well.

    • Link
19. victor

    September 17, 2013 at 3:14 pm

    I personally see a ton of women photographers hired for every possible type of shoot. I know you’ve focused on editorial work but try looking at portraiture, particularly families and children. This field is dominated by women. If commercial work is your game then take a look at some of the most iconic names in the industry. Peggy Sirota, Ellen Von Unworth, Annie Liebovitz, Sara Moon.

    What the hell are you complaining about? It sounds to me like people are looking for all sorts of excuses for why they’re not hired. Trust me. Be a female is not one of them.

    • Link
    • Dan

      September 18, 2013 at 2:47 pm

      Good points. I agree. Also, if someone has an unusual name, quirky background, all these things far from hindering getting hired are in fact, a huge help. To say that these things hurt, is denying reality. I don’t know what the numbers are, but I’d really like to learn more regarding the impact of age — as in being older — on getting hired.

      • Link
    • Robin Black

      September 23, 2013 at 4:21 pm

      You need to look beyond just studio, wedding and portraiture work. Female landscape and nature photographers are virtually ignored.

      • Link
20. john macpherson

    September 17, 2013 at 4:43 pm

    Here’s a few more to enjoy, various genres, all very accomplished photographers.

    Andrea Gjestvang http://andreagjestvang.com/

    Tine Dyrkorn http://www.heartbeatphotography.org/2012/11/tine-dyrkron-introspection.html

    Erika Larsen http://erikalarsenphoto.com/

    Evgenia Arbugaeva http://www.evgeniaarbugaeva.com/#/home

    Maisie Crow http://maisiecrow.com/

    Alicia Bruce http://www.aliciabruce.co.uk/

    Lottie Hedley http://lottiehedleyphotography.com/home

    Natsumi Hayashi http://yowayowacamera.com/ (fun!)

    Ciara Leeming http://www.ciaraleeming.co.uk/

    Georgina Cranston http://georginacranston.com/

    Andrea Ingram http://boxesbellows.blogspot.co.uk/ (eclectic)

    Diana Markosian http://www.dianamarkosian.com/my-father-the-stranger

    • Link
    • Natasha

      October 1, 2013 at 3:38 pm

      i love Diana Markosian’s work. So happy you added her!

      • Link
21. Kenneth Dickerman

    September 17, 2013 at 8:16 pm

    Shiho Fukada springs to mind…..

    http://www.shihofukada.com/#!/index

    • Link
22. John Powell

    September 17, 2013 at 10:12 pm

    Best thing I read in this thread:

    “Also, you’ve got to be kidding me with your self importance in this digital age. Photographers used to be chemists…” — Rob

    • Link
23. Not your average joe

    September 17, 2013 at 11:10 pm

    There may be sexism but racism is more prevalent in the industry. As a black photographer I have had to work harder to secure a gig. I’m good at what I do and far better than most photographers in my region but all the white photographers that I share a studio with receive more gigs than I do. This is a known fact. Sometimes you want to vent out in frustration but at the same I don’t want to be labelled or black listed for staring up sh*t. Pun not intended.

    • Link
24. Edit

    September 18, 2013 at 1:36 am

    There’s so many more talented photographers not included on this list. Here are a few more, but there are so many more.
    Roxanne Lowit http://www.roxannelowit.com
    Melanie Dunea http://www.melaniedunea.com
    Melissa Golden http://www.melissagolden.com
    Samantha Isom http://www.samanthaisom.com
    Vanessa Vick http://www.vanessavick.com
    Marvi Lacar http://www.marvilacar.com
    Larie Taylor http://www.larietaylor.com/

    • Link
25. D

    September 18, 2013 at 1:47 am

    “Or how many times that I’ve been asked if I was the makeup artist simply because I was a woman standing on the set.”

    I think when talking about sexism one should be extremely careful not to have the stereotypical “what do you mean with ‘you people'” reaction. If I were looking for the make-up artist on set I would probably also look out for a woman simply because, statistically, make-up artists more often than not are women. I also don’t think a make-up artist is worth any less than a photography. They’re all self-employed artists in their respective fields.

    • Link
26. Cassie Wright

    September 18, 2013 at 11:01 am

    I’m a female photographer and have been working in the industry for 10 years. I assisted for many years before breaking out on my own in the past few. I can honestly say I have never felt I didn’t get a job due to my gender. Never, not once. I will admit I have experienced older men I’ve been commissioned to photograph looking me over and approaching my male assistant as though he was the photographer even though I was holding the camera. I didn’t let it get to me though, just raised my eyebrows introduced myself and took charge and did a good job. That’s the only thing I can relate to about the issues in this article and I really didn’t take it personally, just chuckled a little at their good ol’ boy mentality since it didn’t hinder me at all. I think being a woman opens doors for certain shoots depending on how you relate to clients/subjects and certain jobs men might be a better fit for based on their personalities/interests. As individuals we each bring something unique to the table which people who hire us relate to for their own reasons. I am on the UGA football sidelines shooting games and also in charge of their promotional imagery for their official posters ect. This is an area typically thought of as belonging to the men. I had no trouble getting my foot in the door there what so ever (and to be honest, I didn’t know much about sports at the time when I approached UGA and their agency, The Adsmith). I don’t think of it being a possibility that I won’t get certain jobs because I’m a female. I do think that matters in how you approach people and come across in the end. I don’t want to go around thinking I’m always being discriminated against because I’m a woman and for that to come across. I’m sure there is sexism going on in places and whatnot, I just don’t feel like I’ve been held back one bit by that….ever.

    • Link
    • Victor

      September 19, 2013 at 1:02 pm

      Amen!! You hit the nail right on the head. It’s how you present yourself and your interactions with others. Glad to hear that you are focusing on the good aspects of your gender rather than what may or may not be holding you back. If I was an art director, I’d hire you!!

      Victor

      • Link
27. Francesca Palazzi

    September 18, 2013 at 11:20 am

    Thank you so much for this excellent post.

    Now I am frantically clicking my way on the links :O It is so inspiring and motivating!

    • Link
28. scott Rex Ely

    September 18, 2013 at 3:58 pm

    Quote: “Women don’t frequently help other women in business, even when it benefits both.’
    I think a comment like that should probably be supported by some verifiable data.

    • Link
29. alyson

    September 19, 2013 at 7:05 pm

    thank you Erin and Rob.

    • Link
30. Romke Hoogwaerts

    September 23, 2013 at 2:49 pm

    I have an idea for the PE—Director choice split. Maybe this has already been said.

    When you show the Director your choices for photographers, you could show only their photos and omit all names.

    • Link
31. Photography’s Old White Guy ProblemPingback

    September 23, 2013 at 3:20 pm

    […] Kareem Blacks of the world. Need more inspiration? Erin Patrice O’Brien just created her own great list of women photographers in response to Shea’s blog […]

    • Link
32. Robin Black

    September 23, 2013 at 4:15 pm

    Great piece–and great list at the end, except for one thing: no list of female landscape and nature photographers, which I would argue is the area of photography where women are most likely to be overlooked. It’s almost impossible to get published/hired or chosen for exhibits because of the knee-jerk assumption that we (in some minds) don’t exist in that particular field. It is beyond frustrating. (And I’d be happy to furnish a long list, with URLs, of talented female landscape photographers).

    • Link
33. AfricanPhotoQueen

    September 24, 2013 at 9:59 am

    It’s too bad that Black women will still not be included no matter how much things change…Caucasion women will see to that.

    • Link
34. Cara Phillips

    September 24, 2013 at 6:26 pm

    I have been watching this debate from the sidelines, and after reading Liz Weinberg’s very smart response, it prompted me to comment. It is great to see this issue being raised, but it also makes me sad to see that not much has changed in that last 5 years. In 2008 there was a similar online discussion on this issue (but specifically related to women working in the art world) http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/whats-a-lady-to-do/

    That online brouhaha led Amy Elkins and myself to launch the online exhibition project, Women in Photography. And I can say from personal experience women can support and lift each other up. Amy and I have both been proud to see how the site has promoted great work and led to opportunities for the artists.

    However over the years I have had many discussions with women artists who feel uncomfortable with the idea that women need “extra help” to compete. They simply want to be measured and succeed on their work and talent alone. But like it or not, photography is still a male-dominated field, most strikingly at the top levels of success. And if no one takes action, it will likely continue this way.

    As a women who lives on both sides of the debate, photographer and photo director, I do not believe that women photo editors have any ‘conscious’ bias for hiring men. This gender imbalance seems to be created by many different factors that are too complex to allow us to pinpoint the “cause.”

    But women who are in the client role, can make a difference by paying attention to their own hiring practices and by hiring more women. And no, I am not suggesting that they should hire “inferior photographers” because they are women, but as anyone who has ever been in a position to assign, there are almost always more good photographers than jobs. The same goes for the art world, there are more good projects then publishers can afford to publish, and there is more great work then there is room to show in Chelsea.

    So if you are a women who is making one of these decisions you really can have an impact. And if after reading about this debate you realize you only ever work with men, maybe you need to take some time to figure out the exact reasons why.

    And women photographers have an effect by creating stronger connections, by sharing contacts and resources, by hiring women assistants, and by recommending each other to their clients. It might sound naive or counterintuitive to think that by promoting other women you can help your own career, but I have seen it work.

    • Link
    • Brendan

      October 3, 2013 at 2:59 am

      Your suggestion sounds rosy enough but it still amounts to actively discriminating against men in practice. You can’t make a concerted effort to hire photographers of a particular gender without doing so with bias. It’s not as if clients are putting names in a hat. The decision is calculated and reasoned.

      There are lots of possible reasons for why women are under-represented in commercial photography, but not everything has to be a result of sexism. Men make up a shrinking portion of wedding and portrait photographers. Is that a result of discrimination? 80% of AD’s are female, is that a result of sexism?

      • Link
35. Sean Marc Lee

    September 24, 2013 at 11:50 pm

    To add to the list, my friend Esther Lin, who, being a woman, kills it in the boys world of MMA and UFC editorial photo.

    http://www.estherlin.com/

    That being said, I live in Asia, and there are plenty of female photographers who kill it in the commercial world. It really comes down to skill/eye.

    And for the record, I do know female AND male photographers who don’t know anything technical, so it’s def not gender based.

    • Link
36. maja

    September 25, 2013 at 2:08 am

    Have few more girls to add to the list!!!

    Heidi Levine
    Maysun Aleina
    Eman Mohammed
    Sara Naomi Lewkowicz
    Tara Todras-Whitehill
    Stephanie Siniclar
    Anja Niedringhaus
    Tanya Habjouqa

    … i could go on for ages!!

    • Link
37. 5 Interesting Reads | Photo LifePingback

    September 25, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    […] Why Is There Sexism in Editorial Photography? […]

    • Link
38. Sexism and Photography | THE PHOTO LABPingback

    September 26, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    […] sexism in editorial photography. Read it here. There have been some other posts following up on it here, here, here, here, here, here, here and […]

    • Link
39. Sean Dwyer

    September 28, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    This conversation is intriguing. Yet it’s based on anecdotal evidence at best. Photography has always been an industry which attracted creative females who did quite well. There may have been a time when certain areas of photography involve many men such as the press industry, but then there are many many female journalists.

    Women earn significantly more as models than guys do, to be honest, I can’t name any male models but there are many super models – all female.

    Photography is a meritocracy, it’s very very easy to get pidgeon holed into one category or another. Clients don’t give a damn if your male of female. But the give a damn if your late, inflate costs too much or just bulks hit your way though the job, or are plain hard to work with.

    There are some absolutely fantastic women photographers out there, and I’m sure they’d prefer to know that their inherent creativity and hard work got them the job. An old boys network won’t help a photographer if he’s produced a front page that has to be reshot.

    There is sexism everywhere in every industry, and those that shout loudest about it might be guilty of a little sexism themselves. ‘All men are b@stards, right?’ Even when they are photographers, editors, fathers, husbands and brothers.

    • Link
40. grubernd

    September 29, 2013 at 11:27 am

    another woman discrediting the idea of equal opportunities by using cheap feminist propaganda methods. when will those girls learn they are doing their gender a major discredit by using simple name-dropping and a me-too attitude towards achievements. really.
    and in the end people work with other people because they come along. given a choice heavily based on their personal preferences. professional or not, but in the end we all want to work with people we share a mutual respect with.

    • Link
41. Brendan

    October 3, 2013 at 2:42 am

    Why is it hunky dory when women make up 80% of AD’s, but sexist and discriminatory when women receive less than 50% of the photography jobs?

    • Link
42. Monthly Wrap – September 1st – October 4th | Chris Crisman PhotographyPingback

    October 4, 2013 at 11:57 am

    […]  – APhotoEditor also asks the question – Why is there sexism in editorial photography? […]

    • Link
43. Dorothy Perry

    October 7, 2013 at 12:50 am

    I am adding my own name, Dorothy Perry, http://danceoflifephotography.com, to ‘represent’ for African American female photographers. I exist, whether or not I make any trendy/hipster lists, and love what I do every single day.

    • Link

Comments are closed for this article!