8 Amazingly Inspirational Female Fashion Shooters you MUST follow.
8 Amazingly Inspirational Female Fashion Shooters
As a male fashion photographer who often shoots for a market that serves women, I think it’s vital to stay in tune with female photographers' perspectives on the subject. Their work isn’t just an influence; it’s a lens into understanding more authentic and nuanced expressions of femininity, strength, and style. When I look at these photographers’ portfolios, I’m reminded of how much the female gaze contributes to shaping beauty and fashion. Ellen von Unwerth has always been a guiding influence for me, particularly with her ability to capture femininity and sensuality that feels both empowered and celebratory. More recently, Lara Jade has made a major impact on my approach to beauty photography, especially her clean, elegant work that somehow always feels deeply personal. Here are eight phenomenal female fashion shooters who continually inspire me to dig deeper and push boundaries in my own work.
1. Ellen von Unwerth
Ellen von Unwerth’s images are intoxicatingly alive. Formerly a model, she turned her lens to photographing women with a unique perspective that merges sensuality and empowerment. Her work has graced campaigns for Dior, Chanel, and Guess, often bringing a sense of joy, freedom, and unapologetic sexuality. For me, her work is a reminder that photography is as much about energy as it is about aesthetics. Von Unwerth’s images feel like celebrations, with a playfulness and provocativeness that never slips into objectification.
https://www.ellenvonunwerth.com
2. Lara Jade
Lara Jade’s beauty photography has been a significant influence on me. Her style is sophisticated and modern, and she has an eye for detail and composition that makes her work both timeless and fresh. Based in New York, Jade’s images often feature soft lighting and meticulous framing, creating a cinematic quality that brings her subjects into an elevated space. Her work with publications like Harper’s Bazaar and brands like Wella has redefined beauty photography for me, showing that elegance and warmth can coexist without diluting either.
3. Camilla Akrans
Camilla Akrans is a master of dreamy, ethereal imagery that feels like fine art. Her fashion photography incorporates nature and soft light, giving her subjects an almost otherworldly glow. Akrans has worked with brands like Hermès and Dior, and her editorial spreads in Harper’s Bazaar and Numero are endlessly inspiring. I see her work as a perfect example of how a photographer can create something magical out of the natural world, letting the environment become as much a character as the model.
4. Paola Kudacki
Argentinian photographer Paola Kudacki merges high-concept fashion with powerful portraiture. Her use of bold contrasts and carefully planned lighting creates a striking atmosphere, infusing her images with both drama and vulnerability. Kudacki’s work with Vogue, i-D, and V Magazine represents a bold, fearless take on fashion, and she frequently collaborates with some of the most iconic figures in pop culture. For me, her work is an invitation to play with contrast and intensity, always adding that element of surprise.
5. Viviane Sassen
Dutch photographer Viviane Sassen’s style is a departure from the mainstream, with abstract, surreal compositions that bring a fresh take to fashion. She creates stories with unusual angles, rich colors, and shadow play that distort conventional beauty standards. Her work has been shown in galleries around the world, and she has collaborated with Missoni, Stella McCartney, and other cutting-edge designers. I see her as a reminder that photography is about experimentation and that sometimes the most powerful images are those that defy convention.
6. Chen Man
China’s Chen Man has brought a futuristic edge to fashion photography, merging traditional Chinese culture with modern aesthetics. Her work feels like a blend of graphic design, pop art, and fashion, often featuring vivid colors and stylized post-production. With her covers for Vision China and campaigns for MAC Cosmetics and Diesel, Chen Man’s style is a celebration of technology and fantasy, something I am looking forward to exploring more in my own work.
https://www.instagram.com/chenman
7. Zoe Ghertner
Zoe Ghertner’s work is minimalistic and natural, showing beauty in raw simplicity. Her portraits feel unfiltered and honest, focusing on the inherent beauty of her subjects without relying heavily on styling or makeup. Ghertner has worked with Céline and The Row and has been featured in The Gentlewoman and WSJ Magazine. I admire her restraint and ability to convey strength and beauty in a way that feels effortless, inspiring me to strip back my own work at times and let simplicity do the talking.
https://www.instagram.com/zoeghertner
8. Emma Summerton
Emma Summerton’s work feels like a walk through a fairytale, with her distinctive use of color, fantasy, and surreal elements. Her editorial spreads in Vogue and W Magazine blend fashion with storytelling, creating images that feel like chapters in a larger narrative. Her collaborations with brands like Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent remind me that there’s always room for imagination in photography, and her work invites me to embrace the whimsical, even in high-fashion shoots.
https://www.emmasummerton.com
Each of these photographers offers something uniquely different, yet all share a deep understanding of how to portray femininity in nuanced, empowering ways. They are reminders of the artistry in fashion photography, challenging me to keep pushing, experimenting, and honing my own style.
So wonderful, Nick! Thank you featuring such incredible women photographers I aspire to be!