Doha, Qatar: As the world marks World Photography Day, Qatar-based Her PhotoClub is highlighting the power of photography to connect women from diverse backgrounds, develop creative skills and transform everyday moments into compelling visual stories.
Launched in November 2025, Her PhotoClub has grown into a vibrant photography community dedicated to providing women with an accessible and supportive environment in which to learn, experiment and express themselves through images.
Behind the initiative are Romana Taj and Nazma Mazhar, two Qatar residents whose friendship demonstrates photography's ability to transcend nationality and cultural backgrounds.
Originally from India and Sri Lanka respectively, the duo did not know each other when they moved to Qatar. They first connected through Instagram, initially through a common language but increasingly through their shared passion for photography.
Nazma, a henna artist, social activist and content creator, has developed a particular interest in product and flatlay photography. Romana, a graphic designer, working mother and content creator, is passionate about wildlife, street and food photography.
Their conversations about photography gradually developed into an ambition to establish a community where women could meet, exchange knowledge and pursue photography without being intimidated by technical equipment or differences in experience.
That vision eventually gave birth to Her PhotoClub, which has emerged as one of the region's women-focused photography communities.
The importance of the initiative is particularly evident on World Photography Day, observed annually on August 19 to celebrate photography as an art form and a powerful means of communication, documentation and storytelling.
At a time when smartphones have made photography accessible to millions, Her PhotoClub reinforces the message that producing meaningful images is not determined solely by owning expensive equipment. Instead, observation, creativity, perspective and storytelling remain at the heart of photography.
The club regularly organises photowalks, workshops, themed shoots and creative challenges, providing members with opportunities to explore different forms of photography while learning from one another.
Accessibility remains central to its activities. Many workshops are offered free of charge and cover both professional cameras and mobile photography, ensuring that women can participate regardless of their experience or the equipment they own.
Members are introduced to important aspects of photography, including composition, lighting, perspective and visual storytelling. However, the benefits extend beyond technical knowledge.
Through group activities and constructive feedback, participants are encouraged to develop confidence in their creative abilities, experiment with new techniques and establish connections with other women who share similar interests.
Photowalks also encourage participants to observe Qatar's surroundings from different perspectives. Streets, architecture, food, nature and ordinary daily encounters can become subjects through which photographers document the country's diversity and changing urban and social landscape.
The initiative therefore represents more than a photography club. It provides a platform for community building, creative expression and women's participation in the arts.
World Photography Day also provides an opportunity to recognise photography's expanding role in contemporary society. Images can preserve history, promote cultures, communicate emotions and draw attention to stories that might otherwise remain unseen.
For Her PhotoClub, that process begins with encouraging women to trust their own perspectives.
From an idea shared by two photography enthusiasts, the initiative is steadily developing into a community where women can create, learn, connect and inspire one another.
Its journey underscores an enduring principle of photography: the most memorable image is not necessarily the technically perfect photograph, but one capable of communicating a story, emotion or distinctive point of view.
As Her PhotoClub aptly demonstrates, photography is ultimately not just about capturing an image, it is about capturing a perspective.
