Great Women Photographers

A showcase of more than 250 women photographers who have captured some of the most remarkable images to date, celebrating their extraordinary vision and indelible impact on visual storytelling

Both an essential historical record and an inspiring showcase of artistic achievement, this timely survey documents the groundbreaking contributions women have made to the field of photography since its inception.

Great Women Photographers spans nearly 200 years of image-making, showcasing the work of more than 250 pioneering photographers around the world. From Anna Atkins, who in 1843 created the first photobook, to Felicia Ewurasi Abban, the first professional woman photographer in 1950s Ghana, these extraordinary artists not only mastered technical innovations, but also used photography as a powerful tool for social commentary, personal expression, and cultural documentation.

Organized alphabetically, the book presents each featured photographer with a beautifully reproduced image and short, authoritative text. Readers will find outstanding examples of documentary photography, portraiture, fashion, conceptual art, and photocollage made by both iconic photographers and lesser-known names deserving of broader recognition.

Featured artists include:

Berenice Abbott, Laura Aguilar, Lola Álvarez Bravo, Diane Arbus, Anna Atkins, Letizia Battaglia, Zaida Ben Yusuf, Myriam Boulos, Anne W. Brigman, Claude Cahun, Julia Margaret Cameron, Renee Cox, Imogen Cunningham, Cristina de Middel, Rineke Dijkstra, Paz Errázuriz, Lalla Essaydi, VALIE EXPORT, Nona Faustine, Format Photographers Agency, Gauri Gill, Nan Goldin, Rula Halawani, Clementina Hawarden, Hannah Höch, Evelyn Hofer, Liz Johnson Artur, Rinko Kawauchi, Justine Kurland, Dorothea Lange, Deana Lawson, An-My Lê, Dora Maar, Sally Mann, Susan Meiselas, Tina Modotti, Pushpamala N., Shirin Neshat, Martha Rosler, Collier Schorr, Shirana Shahbazi, Cindy Sherman, Lorna Simpson, Dayanita Singh, Newsha Tavakolian, Carrie Mae Weems, and Francesca Woodman

Advisors:

Jilke Golbach is a writer, researcher and curator at Foam, Photography Museum of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with an interest in art practices at the intersection of personal narratives and systemic critique.

Phillip Prodger, Ph.D., is Executive Director of Curatorial Exhibitions in Pasadena, California and former Head of Photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Alona Pardo is Director of the Arts Council Collection and a former curator at the Barbican Art Gallery, working at the intersection of gender, social and climate justice with a particular interest in lens- and time-based media. She is a 2026 Turner Prize jury member.

Charmaine Toh is Senior Curator at Tate with a focus on alternate histories of photography.

Rohini Malik Okon is a curator, writer and creative producer based in London, UK. She has a particular interest in highlighting diverse cultural perspectives on knowledge and creativity, and exploring the relationships between art, public space and civic dialogue.

Author: Phaidon Editors
Publisher: Phaidon Press
Published: 10/14/2026
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 4.70lbs
Size: 11.70h x 10.20w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781837292141


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 10/01/2026

About the Author
Phaidon Editors

Fiona Rogers is the inaugural Parasol Foundation Curator of Women in Photography at the V&A. She was previously Director of Photography & Operations for Webber, a photographic agency and gallery with offices in London, New York, and Los Angeles. In 2011 Fiona created Firecracker, a digital platform and network to champion female photographers. In 2012 Firecracker launched a Photographic Grant and has since awarded £20,000 in funding to female artists. In 2017, Fiona published Firecrackers: Female Photographers Now (Thames & Hudson) with co-author Max Houghton.