Female Photographers Shine at AOP Awards

"That professional female photographers are under-represented in our industry is astonishing when you see the calibre of inspirational work displayed across these pages, shot by just a small fraction of our members.

As an industry we need to shake off the perception that gender matters, particularly when it comes to the professionalism and production of exceptional images (as it really shouldn’t matter at all).

2022 marks the 37th edition of the AOP Photography Awards, showcasing stunning submissions from our female finalists. The AOP’s motto is to Protect, Promote and Inspire, and, working with f22, an AOP forum dedicated to championing the work of female photographers, we will continue to explore ways to grow the visibility of women. We promise there is even more exceptional photography on the way.”

Isabelle Doran, CEO, Association of Photographers, the-aop.org

Catherine Losing 

Catherine Losing is an award-winning photographer and director based in London. From colourful still-life photography through to bold TV adverts, her work makes the everyday extraordinary, combining graphic sets with creative concepts.

Alongside her commercial commissions, she is an established artist, working with institutions including MoMA NY and the British Council. Her recent project Portrait of a Village explores her British/Black Sea German heritage, culminating in an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art Odesa and an acclaimed documentary short.

Olivia Beasley

“I love creating atmosphere and a narrative in my photos — shooting people in real places or constructed environments to give a sense of time and place. I use this same approach if I am working on portraits, fashion or still-life projects. I enjoy collaborating with people – my clients, the people I'm photographing and everyone that helps me make reality look a little bit better.

Hannah Maule-Ffinch

“Humans are my passion. I work all over the world documenting lives, particularly of those in severe need. My personal projects celebrate and explore moments of joy, freedom and empowerment. Strong characters and raw emotions are key to my imagery. The importance of community inspires me with the relationships, bonds and support it builds.”

Nancy Anne Harbord 

Nancy Anne Harbord is an advertising photographer and pop artist specialising in food, drink and still life. Their imagery is modern, playful and optimistic, exploring the edible colour palette through bold contrast and vivid hues. They craft graphic compositions showcasing stylised food textures, creating a feast of visual interest that holds the eye. Their work touches on constructs of gender, kitsch, mass production, fetishisation and nostalgia.

Julia Bostock

"Storytelling lies at the heart of my work. I love exploring the culture of people from around the world. From the traditions of the Guardians in the Camargue I saw a young cowgirl who was as capable as the traditional male horsemen. The innate communication that two women can silently create enabled me to capture powerful portraits. I then turned this into a commercial project for Liberty. Gaining trust has always been key to my work, from photographs of couples undergoing IVF treatment to the remote crofting families in the Outer Hebrides."

Carol Sharp

"I grew up surrounded by nature. I remember an enormous old oak tree in our family garden, but I didn’t realise how deep my connection was until my mid 30s, when I bought a cottage and land in rural Norfolk. I’d been a food and still-life photographer for several years, but since then my subject matter has been the world of plants.

"I am interested in suggesting abstract concepts, using nature as metaphor. The duality of creation and destruction occurring simultaneously is poignantly expressed in a plant’s seedhead."

Amy Currell 

Photographer and director Amy Currell lives in east London. Her still-life photography and moving image is shot through a distinctively female lens. Each frame is composed with thoughtfulness and grace, artfully juxtaposing colour and texture, shape and shadow. Amy captures colour and texture at their most evocative, drawing narratives from shadows, finding the warmth and refraction in liquids, and blending CGI techniques with traditional stills photography for a perfected reality.

Julia Fullerton-Batten 

Julia Fullerton-Batten is a fine art photographer known for highly cinematic visual story-telling. Her large-scale projects create narrative using staged tableaux and sophisticated lighting techniques. Her hallmarks include unusual locations, creative settings and street-cast models. She has won numerous awards, has published two books and has permanent collections on show at the National Portrait Gallery and the Parliamentary Art Collection.