10 Expert Tips for Photographing Women
Miriam Watsemba
Reading time approx. 2 minutes
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As a documentary and portrait photographer, Miriam Watsemba has spent years following women across Uganda — into their gardens, their clinics, their shelters, their workplaces, homes and their daily lives. In honour of International Women’s Day, she shares ten of those images: each one a glimpse into the world of a real woman, and each one paired with a practical photography lesson learned in the field.
Miriam in her words:
"These tips are also my contribution to the Capture Her Frame challenge — an invitation for you to go out, apply these techniques, and share your own photographs of the women who inspire you. Study the images below, then pick up your camera". Join Challenge below.
Before you raise your camera, lower your agenda. Ask open questions and let your subject speak. Women often describe experiences in sensory, emotional terms that paint a vivid picture — listen for those cues. The emotion you hear is the emotion you need to capture. Whether it is hope, resilience, pain, hard work or joy, that mood becomes your brief: it tells you which moment to wait for, which angle to take, and when to finally press the shutter.
đź“ŤShot at St Mary’s Lacor Hospital in Gulu city, Uganda
Genuine access cannot be faked, and it rarely comes from an official permit. Women are often warm, welcoming and community-minded — meet them where they are. Sit with them, share a meal, help with a task. When you show up as a person rather than a photographer, barriers dissolve. You earn proximity, trust, and the kind of intimate frames that could never be posed or staged. Build the connection first; the images will follow naturally.
đź“ŤShot in Usuku village, Katakwi district, Teso sub region.
An environmental portrait places your subject within her world rather than isolating her against a blank background. The surroundings become part of the story, answering the questions a close-up cannot: Where is she? What is she doing? Why does it matter?
The wider frame does the explaining for you. Train yourself to pause before shooting and ask: what does this space say about this person? Then step back and let it show.
đź“ŤShot in Usuku village, Katakwi district, Teso sub region.
Action freezes in an instant, and your shutter speed is the tool that catches it. A speed of 1/500s or faster will stop most human movement cleanly. The result is a portrait that is both dynamic and contextually rich — far more revealing than a static pose. Observe your subject first, anticipate the peak moment, and be ready to shoot when it arrives.
đź“ŤShot in Ntungamo district, Uganda.
Eye level is the default, but it is not always the most powerful choice. A low angle can make a subject appear strong and commanding; a high angle can reveal the environment around her. Before you shoot, spend 30 seconds walking around your subject. Crouch down. Step up. Look through the viewfinder from each position. The best angle is rarely the first one you try.
đź“ŤShot in Cluster B, Kiryandongo refugee settlement.
Repeating shapes, lines, colours and textures create rhythm in a photograph. Before you frame your shot, scan the scene: are there rows of crops, parallel shadows, matching fabrics, or identical objects? Use those repetitions deliberately. Position your subject so she either breaks the pattern — creating contrast — or becomes part of it, adding a sense of harmony and belonging.
đź“ŤShot in one of the Gogo Electric Assembling warehouses in Kampala, Uganda
Composition is a decision you make before you press the shutter, not after. Actively scan your surroundings for doors, windows, archways, overhanging branches, or or any naturally occurring frame within which you can place your subject.
A frame within a frame draws the viewer’s eye directly to your subject, adds depth, and tells a story about the space she inhabits. It is one of the most effective compositional tools available to you — and it costs nothing but awareness.
đź“ŤShot at Odupi Primary school, in Northern Uganda.
Contrast is one of the most powerful tools in portrait photography. Train your eye to notice opposing elements in the scene: dark versus light, rough versus smooth, large versus small. For example: a dark garment against a sun-bleached wall, or a bold colour against a neutral one.
Position your subject to take advantage of these contrasts rather than fight against them.
Simplicity is your ally: a clutter-free background with a single contrasting tone can elevate an ordinary portrait into a striking one.
đź“ŤShot in Cluster L, Kiryandongo refugee settlement, Uganda.
Every scene contains lines — roads, rivers, fences, furrows in a field, the edge of a building. When used well, these lines pull the viewer’s gaze directly toward your subject and create a sense of depth and direction. Look for lines that converge on or lead toward your subject, then position yourself so they work in your favour. The viewer will follow them there without even noticing.
đź“ŤShot on Lake Victoria near Ripon landing site in Jinja, Uganda.
Light creates shadows, and shadows create depth, texture and drama. Rather than treating them as a problem to solve, learn to read shadows the way you read light. Where do they fall? What shapes do they make? Can you position your subject so the shadow pattern adds a graphic quality to the frame? Shoot at golden hour for long, soft shadows or in harsh midday light for sharp, high-contrast drama. Either way — include the shadow. It is part of the story.
đź“ŤShot at Kiryandongo refugee settlement in Uganda.
Every great story begins with the right tools — and for Miriam Watsemba, her documentary setup is built for speed, precision, and reliability in the field.
Her setup allows her to capture fleeting expressions and distant subjects with clarity, even in challenging light. But as miriam reminds us, “It’s not just about the gear — it’s about the story and emotion you are able to capture.”
Now that you’ve seen Miriam’s approach to capturing women— it’s your turn. Whether you’re shooting in a forest, a park, or your own backyard, every wildlife moment tells a story.
Click here to jump on the challenge!
