Sony announces winners of Alpha Female program

Back in September, Sony announced its Alpha Female Program aimed to support diversity in the industry. Now the winners have been announced, and among over 6,000 entries, five women have won the contest and earned plenty of valuable prizes.

The 2018 grant recipients are these creators: Megan Allen, Danielle Da Silva, Erin Hogue, Nitashia Johnson, and Colette Robinson.

• Megan Allen is an Ohio-based wedding photographer. Her photography is often very bold and perhaps you remember her photo where she used a burning building as a backdrop for a wedding shot.
• Danielle Da Silva is the Founder and CEO of Photographers Without Borders and is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning photographer/director as well as a conservationist, scholar, activist, and speaker.
• Erin Hogue is a photographer, writer, creative director, artist, speaker, and an adventurer.
• Nitashia Johnson is a graphic designer, photographer, and animator who loves to collaborate with fellow artists.
• Colette Robinson creates photos, stop-motion animations, cinemagraphs and videos for brands and travel destinations.

The ladies have won $25,000 grant to help advance their careers and “remove what’s been holding them back.” Additionally, each of them has been rewarded with $5,000 worth of Sony gear. Other than the monetary and gear prizes, all five women have won a mentorship from another successful Alpha Female. They also get “extensive education opportunities,” “networking events with other creators in New York and Los Angeles,” and an exhibition of their work at the end of the program.

As I said before, I think this is a great opportunity for female creators. We’re underrepresented in photography and filmmaking industry, so this can be a fantastic chance for these five ladies to raise their careers to a higher level. They are all great in what they do, and I know there are plenty more fantastic female creators. So, all of you ladies who didn’t apply this year – I encourage you not to miss the chance in 2019.

[via Digital Trends]