In the photo industry, women don't always get the credit they deserve. So here are 12 amazing female wedding photographers that you should be following, but probably aren't.
When first starting to gather names for this list, I set aside a handful of qualifications. The first being that they had to be a female photographer that specializes in weddings. From there, they had to have less than 10,000 followers on Instagram and they needed to have some type of accolade that would set them apart from the pack. So without further ado, here is the list.
Megan Allen - @studio22photography
- Top 10 Fearless Photographer in the U.S. 2018
- Top 100 Fearless Photographer in the World 2018
- Sony Alpha Female
- MagMod Ambassador
Brandi Potter - @brandipotterphoto
- 2018 30 Rising Stars for Rangefinder Magazine
- 2018 Best of the Best Wedding from Junebug Weddings
- 2018 Best of Best Engagement from Junebug Weddings
Crystal Stokes - @crystalstokesphotography
- 2015 Top 5 Fearless Photographers in the World
- Top 100 Wedding Photographers in the U.S. and Canada by SLR Lounge
- Magmod Ambassador
- Instructor at Mystic seminars
- Judge for numerous photography competitions
Isabelle Hattink - @isabellehattink
- 2017 Fearless Photographer of the Year
- 2017 Wedding Photojournalist Association second place in the world
- 2016 Top 10 Fearless Photographer
- Worldwide educator and speaker
Charmi Patel Pena - @charmipena
- Nikon Ambassador
- Magmod Ambassador
- Top 100 Wedding photographers in the U.S. and Canada by SLR Lounge
- 2014 Top 20 award from International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers
Jenn Nauss - @jennnauss
- One of Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 photographers two years in a row
- Multi Fearless awards winner
- Speaker at Mystic Seminars, Hi On life in Hawaii, Fearless Budapest, and Nine Dots in London
- Official photographer for Real Life Women’s Conference
Lyndah Wells - @lyndahwellsphotography
- Magmod Ambassador
- Speaker at WPPI and Fearless Conference
- Fearless Award Winner
Sara France - @sarafrance
- Sony Artisan
- Sony Alpha Female Mentor
- Founder of France Photographers
Petronella Lugemwa - @petronellaphotography
- 2018 30 Rising Stars for Rangefinder Magazine
- Speaker at WPPI, the Photo Cookout, and Inspire Photo Retreat
Sabina Mlandin - @sabinamlainphotographer
- Top 10 Fearless Photographer in the World for 2016, 2017, and 2018
- 2018 Wedding Photography Selects Photographer of the Year
- Top 100 Wedding photographers in the U.S. and Canada by SLR Lounge
- 2017 Romanian Fotografi-Cameramani.ro Photographer of the Year
Lauren Brimhall - @laurenbrimhallphoto
- 2018 Top 5 Fearless Photographer in the World
- 2018 Top Female Fearless Photographer in the World
- 2018 Tied for Top Photographer in the United States by Wedding Photography Select
- 2018 Top 20 Photographer in the World by Wedding Photography Select
- 2018 Top 30 Photographer in the World by the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers
You Only Have 11 People Listed?
That's right! This is where you all come in. Given the same criteria I gave myself, I want to know who you think should be on this list? They must have less than 10,000 followers on Instagram, have some type of accolade (speaker, founder, award winner, etc.), and they must be a female photographer that primarily shoots weddings. Drop a link to your suggestions in the comments.
Photo by Erica Biarnes.
Honorable Mentions
Below is a quick list of other amazing female photographers that are absolutely worth checking out. If you think one of these people should be the twelfth, drop their link in the comments.
- Erika Biarnes - @erikabiarnes
- Davina Kudish - @davinaplusdaniel
- Laura Reynolds - @lureyweddings
- Danielle Green - @layersphoto
- Beth Kerechanin - @sethandbethphoto
- Beth Winstead - @chadwinsteadphoto
- Chasnie Vinson - @vinsonimages
- Lindsay Stark - @starkphotography_
- Jennifer Ludwig - @karmapants
https://www.instagram.com/katchsilva/
https://www.instagram.com/typentecost/
@chadwinsteadphoto
OH MY GOODNESS, the women around me are amazing.
But: Katie Merkle https://www.merklephotography.com/: @katiemerklephoto
Winner of the 2017 Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) Grand Award in Photojournalism / 1st place in Wedding Photojournalism / 2 Silver Awards, Silver Distinction Award, Fearless winner, speaker at Fearless conference. (on top of having a really serious disability-- what she's overcome is amazing and so she's at the top of my list. But the rest of the list isn't in any kind of order)
It's tough because Tree and Jos work together, but Tree is amazing!
Tree Woodsmith: http://www.josstudios.com/photo-awards/ @josstudios
Lauren Belknap: @laurencatephoto -- works with Callaway Gable, and has 14+ Fearless, 2014 Rangefinder Top 30 and multiple Junebug Best of the Bests.
To watch: Mari Harsan @mariharsanstudios - numerous ISPWP, WPJA and Fearless awards and a creative force of nature, Janie Pilkerton https://www.steveandjane.com/ -- lots of awards has taught on Susan Stripling's The Wedding School, Lisa Boggs: Leader of the Capital Area Photographers group -- 4+ Fearless awards.
I'm also not shy of putting my own name out there. L Hewitt Photography: http://www.landmhewitt.com @lhewittphoto Rangefinder Top 30 Rising Stars, Multiple Fearless, MyWed, Top Knots awards and over a dozen ISPWP awards. Most of the stuff I have gotten is not just my work, but because of countless amazing photographers who have helped me, given me a hand, and shared my name and I'm forever and eternally grateful.
But on the same coin, I'm going to give a shout out to ALL of the lady photographers who have pushed and opted OUT of going for accolades and such because while competitions can be really useful, they can also be exhausting and put the emphasis in the wrong place (ie: NOT your clients), and they also aren't everything. Cheers to those who keep pushing and doing better than they did before.
https://www.instagram.com/karmapants/
An absolute warrior both in life and photography.
No real words describe... so thank goodness there are pictures.
Thank you!!
Kristi Boatright of Https://www.instagram.com/thedogwoodcollective
Junebug’s 2018 Best of the Best Wedding Photographers winner
YUP
Beth Winstead - @chadwinsteadphoto
Yes! <3
http://instagram.com/thewarmtharoundyou shot my daughter's wedding. I was at first taken back by the cost, although she isn't out of line for pro wedding pics, it's still a lot of money. Totally worth it. I can't speak highly enough about what she delivered.
Cassie is amazing and needs to be on here <3
@maghood
.
If there wasn't a problem with us being recognized we wouldn't complain ;)
I didn't get the feeling that his comment said there wasn't a problem... He's pointing out how this offered an opportunity to recognize female photographers for their skill and it's clearly happening without any pushback.
lol ok.
Alright
Brandi Potter /\ /\ /\ This is what a non-productive comment looks like.... wow.
Update: For those late to the party.... A troll account had posted a few comments before being deleted by moderators.
.
I think good photography is recognized no matter who it is created by. I also think the photography industry is more welcoming to male photographers than it is to women. That is likely why there are fewer female photographers than male.
This is not a productive statement. Commenting on a positive article about how "women complain" is EXACTLY the problem.
.
OMG. I second Katie Merkle. What a woman. I cannot believe she is not featured anywhere; her story is incredible. https://www.instagram.com/katiemerklephoto
Jenn Ludwig of Karma Pants Photography
Jennifer Ludwig - @karmapants
Jennifer Ludwig
@karmapants
She’s the bomb!
https://instagram.com/karmapants?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1tfy...
Jennifer Ludwig
Jenn Ludwig @karmapants
Jennifer Ludwig - @karmapants
Alyson Levy Photography - https://www.instagram.com/alyson_levy
Best of The Knot 5 years running.
She beautifully captures all the emotion of any wedding in bright, warm and stunning photos.
I’ve been her second shooter for 4 seasons now and she is truly incredible and a blast to work with.
I'm extremely surprised that Erika Mann is not on this list?
https://twomann.com/
https://www.fearlessphotographers.com/photographers.cfm?photogID=1423&er...
Erika has to many followers. This list is for the ladies doing killer work without getting much love. So looking for people with less then 10 thousand followers ☺
@Karmapants !!
https://www.instagram.com/taniaafonsophotography/
Here are a few amazing ladies I think you are missing: @meganmichelle.photo - @jennifervansonphoto - @oak.oliveandco - @taralillyphotography
https://www.instagram.com/madelinebarrphoto
So Cal based, Maddie's adorable personality mixed with her imaginative sense of creativity would make any shoot memorable. She has such a magnetic personality that it will almost feel like you decided to let your best friend shoot your wedding.
Nice list and awesome work.
https://www.instagram.com/chadwinsteadphoto <3
Thanks Jason! Glad to see such talented women getting a spotlight :)
https://www.instagram.com/leisejonesphoto/
Leise creates authentic photographs for couples who feel frustrated with traditional wedding-related expectations, and who care more about having a fun wedding than they care about having a perfect wedding. She is collaborative, personalized and focused on helping couples feel comfortable in front of the camera so they can let their true spirit shine. She's won consecutive Couples’ Choice Awards in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and consistently receives unanimous five-star reviews on Yelp and Wedding Wire.
https://www.instagram.com/interstellarimage/
I vote for https://www.instagram.com/karmapants/ and https://www.instagram.com/lureyweddings/
Tara Theilen! https://www.instagram.com/theilenphotography/
She's amazing! And SUPER humble, too. I think you should go with the woman the editors at F-Stoppers agree has the strongest work, vs. making it a popularity contest.
They all do amazing work.
That being said, I don't understand why as a business owner, you'd follow your competition on a page that you funnel clients to. From a marketing perspective it seems a bit foolish.
Rachael Boer https://www.rachaelboerphotography.com/weddings
Lisa at gomoxiestudio: https://www.instagram.com/moxiestudiolisa/
@karmapants
Anna Nguyen Stratton - https://instagram.com/zeeannaphoto
She’s the Vietnamese Charmi ;)