Celebrating Women in Photography: Canon Miraisha’s International Women’s day Workshops in Kenya and Nigeria
In honor of International Women’s Day 2025, Canon Miraisha hosted two exclusive all-female photography workshops aimed at empowering women in the creative industry. With this year’s theme of "Accelerate Action," Canon partnered with local NGOs, including Teenage Mums Empowerment in Dandora, Kenya, and Kings and Queens in Bariga, Nigeria, to create a platform where young women could learn, grow, and be inspired. The workshops were designed to foster a sense of community, mentorship, and skill-building to help women break into the professional world of photography and develop as both artists and leaders.
Kenya Workshop: Portrait and Documentary Photography with Georgina Goodwin
In Kenya, Canon Miraisha partnered with the local NGO Teenage Mums Empowerment to host a workshop led by our Canon certified trainer and documentary and environmental photographer Georgina Goodwin, who shared her extensive expertise with the participants. The focus was on portrait documentary photography, a style that emphasizes storytelling through visual images. The participants were given hands-on experience with creating meaningful portraits, capturing the essence of the people and stories that matter.
Beyond the technical skills, Georgina’s workshop provided invaluable insights into the personal journey of a female creative. With over 20 years of experience, Georgina’s work addresses crucial themes of resilience, nature, women, and social justice. She shared how her career has been shaped by her experiences as a mother, showing how motherhood has deepened her perspective on storytelling and representation and inspiring the next generation of female photographers.
The workshop also allowed Georgina to showcase her commitment to conservation and community, sharing how her children influence her approach to environmental and social justice photography. Her journey as a female photographer and mother has proven that it is possible to balance creativity with family responsibilities, and her message to participants was clear: women can thrive in this industry while also making an impact on the world.
Nigeria Workshop: Product Photography with Valerie Oguchi
The Nigeria workshop, led by product photographer Valerie Oguchi, focused on empowering women in the field of product photography and visual storytelling. Hosted in Bariga, a community in Lagos, this workshop was held in collaboration with Kings and Queens. The session provided participants with practical and theoretical knowledge on the fundamentals of product photography, with an emphasis on capturing women’s stories through images.
During the workshop, Valerie focused on both the technical and creative aspects of product photography. The practical shoot allowed participants to gain hands-on experience while also learning how to visually communicate the essence of products. For Valerie, the goal of the workshop was not only to teach photography skills but also to foster a sense of community and encourage participants to use their talents to make an impact in their own lives and communities.
Valerie Oguchi, a Canon-certified trainer, shared her personal journey and the challenges she faced as a woman in the male-dominated photography industry, particularly in West Africa. She highlighted the lack of female mentors and parental support for photography as a career but emphasized how perseverance and self-empowerment allowed her to overcome these challenges. Valerie believes that product photography, in particular, is an accessible form of creative expression, as it can be done in small spaces, even from home. This accessibility makes it an ideal medium for women, especially those who may be balancing other responsibilities, like motherhood.