Dear Nikon, this one's for the girls

On Friday I read the article in the New York Times about how Nikon featured 32 pro photographers, all men and 0 women in the release of their new D850 camera.   Not cool right?  How does a huge company like Nikon launch a new product featuring photographers from Asia, Africa and the Middle East and they can’t come up with a single woman?  I’m just one person and I couldn’t get out of my mind that I know at least 32 amazing women photographers.  So, I did what I usually do when irritated by something and posted the article on Facebook and commented about how we aren’t living in 1950 and how I’m glad that I shoot with Canon equipment.  But then, my friend Amy pointed out that Canon isn’t much better with only 8 out of their 40 brand ambassadors being women.  Nikon has 7 women out of their 24 brand ambassadors.  Nikon got a lot of backlash for their latest campaign, which turned out in my opinion to be a positive because it begin a conversation that got noticed by some of the biggest media outlets.  Nikon even issued an apology, here’s the beginning of it which is the most important part:

“We apologize for this unfortunate circumstance – it is not reflective of the value we place on female photographers and their enormous contributions to the field of photography. We champion all passionate photographers and women are an integral part of this community.”

Words matter.  But, so do actions, and actions trump words.  Their campaign IS reflective of the value they place on female photographers and it isn’t just a Nikon issue it’s a photography industry issue.  Nikon and Canon own the biggest market share in professional DSLR equipment so one would think they should be leading the charge but it does make sense why they aren’t.  Nikon has 10.6% of employees being women, 4.7% who are in management.  Canon has 15.2% of their employees being women and 2% who are in management.  A good portion of these company’s sales is made up of our small businesses buying equipment and I’m sure that to them a dollar is a dollar no matter what gender it comes from.  Nikon’s oversight gave us a great opportunity to respond, and keep moving the industry of photography forward for women like those before us have done.

My professional career began in what most would call a “man’s world” as an Industrial Engineer.  I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go to Purdue University, which I chose because of their focus on supporting women in engineering.  I knew what I was getting into and I love challenges and seeing progress. I have my corporate career to thank for teaching me business skills, and many international trips that got me interested in photography in the first place.  I’m going on 9 years as a full time photographer and I have two daughters who are 3 years old.  Like any parent I want them to dream big and have the opportunity to do what they are passionate about.  In order for them to be able to do this, it’s up to our generation to speak up, take action when something isn’t right, and support and encourage each other as women.   This is for my daughters, and my friends’ daughters, and all girls who may aspire to have a career in photography someday.  In response to Nikon, I wanted to feature the amazing women photographers that I know.   I did a call out to my friends and within 36 hours I had 37 women (including me of course:-) who wanted to participate.  This is a group of women photographers who are diverse, amazingly talented, entrepreneurs, and business owners who work in all genres of photography.  Ladies:  keep up the amazing work, don’t apologize for who you are or what you charge because you are worth it and more!  Click on their profiles below to see their work. 

Christina Maldonado
Genre | Weddings & Portraits | Based in Tampa, FL

Olivia Womack
Genre | Boudoir & Beauty Portraits |
Based in Cocoa Beach, Florida

Andi Diamond
Genre | Weddings, Portraits, Corporate Headshots | Based in Tampa, FL

Bethany Augliere
Genre | Nature and Wildlife | Based in Delray Beach, FL

Miriam Salgado
Genre | Elopements, Beach Weddings, Portraits | Based in Wesley Chapel, FL

Julieann Usry
Genre | Weddings and Engagements | Based in Land O' Lakes, FL

Jessie Stehlik
Genre | Weddings and Portraits | Based in Tampa, FL

Alycia Savage
Genre | Family, Newborn, HS Senior Portraits | Based in Dallas, TX/Tampa, FL

Kimberly Romano
Genre | Weddings | Based in Clearwater, FL

Lisa McCoy
Genre | Equestrian, Portraits, Cars/Yachts
| Based in Tampa, FL

Amy Pezzicara
Genre | Weddings, Portraits, Editorial, Food | Based in Tampa, FL

Mariana Mosli
Genre | Multiculural Weddings/Destination Multi-Day Weddings | Based in Tampa, FL

Jodi Hutton
Genre | Weddings and Product | Based in Denver, CO

Rana Mohammadian Tierney
Genre | HS Seniors, Lifestyle, Weddings | Based in Sarasota, FL

Katelyn Prisco
Genre | Weddings and Family | Based in Sarasota, FL

Audrey Owen
Genre | Weddings and Portraits | Based in Naples, FL

Tanya Long-Garro
Genre | Family, Maternity, Newborn, HS Seniors | Based in Nashville, TN

Jeanine McLeod
Genre | Babies, Children, Families | Based in Wesley Chapel, FL
Photo Credit: Andi Diamond

Elina Levy
Genre | Weddings and Portraits | Based in Tampa, FL

Andrea Moberly
Genre | Family, Newborn, Seniors | Based in Indianapolis, IN

Kenzie Shores
Genre | Maternity, Newborns, Families | Based in St. Petersburg, FL

Kristin Berry
Genre | Product and Branding | Based in Tampa, FL

Shayna Hardy
Genre | Families, HS Seniors, Boudoir and Underwater | Based in Baltimore, MD

Ashley Canay
Genre | Weddings, Events, Portraits | Based in Tampa, FL

Andrea Taylor
Genre | Family and Children Portraiture | Based in Marietta, GA

Ashley Thorne
Genre | Weddings and Boudoir | Based in Hampshire, United Kingdom

Mary Buck
Genre | Corporate& Actor/Model Headshots, Family/Children's Portraits | Based in Atlanta, GA

Andria Lavine
Genre | Events and Portraiture | Based in Atlanta, GA

Marlo Laney
Genre | Headshots, Business Branding, Family, Maternity | Based in Tampa, FL

Shelby Finkelstein
Genre | Babies, Children, Family, Maternity
 | Based in Orlando, FL

Kera Holzinger
Genre | Wedding and Portraits | Based in St Petersburg, FL

Nancy Steele
Genre | HS Seniors, Families, and Business Images | Based in West Linn, OR

Brittany Trevino
Genre | Weddings and Portraits | Based in Tampa, FL

Jennifer Corbin
Genre | Weddings | Based in Yucaipa, California

Arlene Franklin-Dicks
Genre | Newborns, Maternity, Events, Headshots | Based in Marietta, GA

Leslie Harris-Senac
Genre | Weddings & Special Events Films | Based in Sarasota, FL
Photo Credit: Cheryl Ziemke

Carrie Wildes
Genre | Weddings and Portraits | Based in Tampa, FL