SHF Blog

Read our latest #sheheartsfilm interview featuring Joy Celine Asto. We look at the work of her stunning array of film photography, asking her about her photography practice and future goals.

This blog takes a deep dive look into one of the entries from our #sheheartsfilm competition back in March. We look at the work of Hollie Cornish, and her project titled 'Mother's of the Pandemic'. Hollie tells us the stories behind the project and more about her photography practice.

Following on from the success of our #Sheheartsfilm project back in March, we have decided to publish a list of all the wonderful female film photographers who entered. There are over 150 on the list, so follow, support and let's keep the female film community growing!

In Emma's words: "I want to talk to you all about why I fell in love with film, the versatility of film and why everyone with creative juices flowing through their veins should give film photography a go!"

Emily describes her film photography journey so far, and the advice she'd pass on to any women looking to start shooting analogue

"I had a conversation with a woman I photographed a couple years ago that has stuck with me ever since. I asked her what her motivation was for getting her portrait taken and she explained that she’d recently lost her Mum and she had realised that there were no decent photographs of her. You see, her Mum was the one who always took the photographs, so whilst there were millions of pictures of everyone else, very few existed of her. Sound familiar? She didn’t want that to be the case for her children and so she valued getting in front of the camera every now and again."

"I’ve met so many wonderfully talented female photographers since setting up my business, and particularly since taking on the role of co-hosting the Sunny 16 Podcast. Every day I feel like I’m discovering new, beautiful and powerful work by women. I do have to give a special mention to Anna Atkins as the woman most well known for her work with cyanotypes (a technique I absolutely love working with myself)"

"I really hope analogue photography continues to grow AROUND THE WORLD and that more brands revive those loved stocks as a result of that. Disposable/Single Use cameras CAN capture a moment. Film remains timeless. Long live film!"

"I think it goes for people of any gender - there are no rules when it comes to picking up a film camera - whether you’re using a point and shoot or a monster of a camera, the process of having those photos developed and reliving the moments you captured is something that’s unique to film”

"I think that the film community and industry could encourage more womxn to start shooting film by putting more of the spotlight on current female photographers and the themes emerging in their work. There certainly are more men out there who shoot but I don’t think that the percentage is actually that drastic; I think rather that many more men are just given the opportunities and focus, whereas womxn seem to be left behind in the shadows a little bit"

"I later started work as the head of photography A-level at a different sixth form. I have always considered myself an artist first and teacher second and continued my creative practice alongside my day jobs. "

"It’s a risky business shooting film and also it’s somewhat intimidating. I think people, not just women, are a little scared of working with film. I also think that women need more positive role models within film photography and women are underrepresented in the field generally."

"Not only did I take my Zenit-B into a pool but my whole family was watching which is one of my insecurities - being watched/ stared at while taking photos. I only really take photos if my dog is there or a friend I trust"

"I think projects are a great way to let women know that film photography is a creative and exciting experience and that there are other women having a go and having fun. I certainly feel that I’ve found my tribe in film photography and that there are people who I can rely on for support and inspiration. I hope they feel the same way about me! "

"I think it would be great to create more events, platforms or talks that promote the visibility of emerging film photographers. Personally, I would like the female gaze to be more present in the panorama of analogue photography so that each of us can open a door to a sea of new diverse ideas and possibilities."

"I was upset recently to learn that a photographer that we invited into the club to take photos of the dancers as a ‘uni project’ then went on to sell prints of the dancers without compensating them. It is NOT okay to profit off the images of sex workers in this way. Had we known this was going to happen we would not have let her in." - Read more from Rachel!

"Shannon Tomasik is one of my favourite female film photographers, I find her aesthetic dreamy, and her self-portraits are stunning. Her photos are full of meaning and between-times" - Read More!

"I am part of a free womxn’s camera club in Bristol. We haven’t been a collective for very long but are starting to see more new photographers show up. At our first meeting, I spoke to a group of women who mostly shoot digital and just talking to them about my own work has encouraged them to shoot more film and learn how to develop their negatives at a local darkroom"

As part of our celebration of International Women's day we are featuring a series of interviews with female members of the community. Called 'Female Voices in Film' today's interviewee is Rebecca Danese