Gender Based Photography Groups – WHY?

The first one I ever saw was “Chicks Who Click.” It was years ago and the photography industry was predominately male. I didn’t think too much of it, but wondered (aloud at times) the wisdom of, not only creating a gender biased photography group, but giving it a cutesy name like “Chicks Who Click.” By naming it that, they downplayed the seriousness and professionalism of their chosen profession. They demoted themselves from “professional photographers” to “middle school sleep-over photography club.” I envisioned a bedroom of giggling girls, braiding each other’s hair, talking about boys, and occasionally using some derivative of the word “passion” and “photography” in the same sentence.

A few years later, I was at a national convention and met a woman who handed me her business card. On it, was the name of a photography group she’d founded – “Women Only Workshops, She’fari Photographers.” Whaaaa? Yep, she was very proud of the group and said business couldn’t be better. Of course, I, possessing the wrong genitalia, was not allowed to attend any of her workshops or go on any “She’faris” so I’m not quite sure WHY she even bothered to give me her business card unless it was just to rub it in. She seemed very nice, so I doubt she meant it as an insult though, but still. Helloooo? Common Sense???

About the same time, a few others started popping up, “Clickin’ Moms,” “Momtogs,” “Confidence Workshops for Women,” and many, many more. Some of these groups were never meant to be anything more than a playgroup with cameras. Harmless enough, I suppose. But others were targeting professionals, or more accurately, aspiring professionals, which is where I began to scratch my head.

Is there something I’m missing? (besides the obvious, of course). Are there dials on my camera that only the female genitalia are capable of operating? Does my possession of a penis prohibit my ability to adjust my fstop or something? Please. I want to know.

I wondered how a “Male Only” photography group would be viewed by the female population. But then I laughed. I laughed hard. Men would never join a “male only” group, for one reason… “no women.” I even searched the Internet and only found one. It was largely a group of gay male photographers and models who were “all about erotic exhibitionists.” There ya go.

So here we are, many years into the digital era, and the industry has evolved from old men to young women. No longer are the females among us a “protected minority.” They are clearly the majority and the trend-setters of photography. They are the leaders of our profession, of our industry. And yet, these “female only” photography groups not only still exist, they’re growing. And it boggles my mind that they are STILL giving themselves “cutesy names.” Professional photography is not “cute.” Professional photography, as a BUSINESS, is serious BUSINESS. And professional associations should NOT be practicing gender discrimination, nor should it be demeaning the value of the female perspective and female contributions to professional photography.

And I know I’m not alone. Many women I’ve spoken to feel the same way. My good friend Missy Mwac put it very eloquently when she said “I think “men only” photography groups are just wrong. I don’t think it’s right to exclude a group of people simply because of their gender. I mean we are all photographers, many of us are parents, and we all face the same problems. Yes, men only groups are wrong. And everyone in my WOMEN only photography group feels the same way. xoxo”

It’s time for that bedroom of giggling girls to grow up and behave like true businesswomen. If you’ve got a business name, take yourself seriously. Get out of the kiddie pool and swim with the grownups. The deep end of the big pool doesn’t care what your gender is, only that you can swim. And if you’re running a gender biased photography group, you’re not doing my profession any favors – so stop targeting those who aspire to be serious professionals. You’re a “playgroup.” You have no business talking business.

About The Author

Kevin E. Newsome, from Tampa, Florida, is PPA Certified, Master Photographer, whom, along with his wife, Kaye (yes, also a photographer), has run Newsome’s Studio of Photography, Inc. for nearly 30 years. You can find him on Twitter,  Instagram and G+, as well as his blog, where this article was published originally, and shared with permission.