This World Photography Day, You! zooms in on four women behind the lens, each capturing the world in her own unique way…
world photography day
Cameras have come a long way, from bulky film-loaded boxes to sleek smartphones with filters galore. But at its core, photography still does what it always has: freezes a moment and makes it unforgettable. Whether it’s your nani’s faded wedding portrait tucked inside an old album or that perfectly timed vacation selfie, photos have a way of capturing feeling.
Every year on World Photography Day, which occurs on 19th August, we scroll through timelines full of throwbacks, golden hour experiments, and artsy close-ups of coffee. But behind the camera are storytellers who don’t just point and shoot, they see. And some of the most exciting, moving, and creative work is being done by women who are steadily redefining photography in Pakistan.
From wedding portraits to wildlife in motion, and from social issues to silent resistance, these women are proving that a great photo isn’t about megapixels, it’s about perspective. This week, You! is featuring four photographers, each with her own style, and a story to tell…
If you’re into dreamy wedding photos, fun mehendi shots, and magazine-like portraits that feel both real and beautiful, then you’ve probably seen Izzah Shaheen Malik’s work. Known on Instagram and in the photography world as Pictroizzah, Izzah has completely changed how wedding photography looks and feels in Pakistan. She doesn’t just take pictures, she tells stories. Her photos show brides laughing with their friends, mothers holding back tears, and siblings joking around during late-night dance practices. There’s no drama or over-editing, just real moments, captured with care.
Izzah also works in fashion and editorial photography. She has worked with various brands and magazines, but her heart clearly belongs to people. She makes her clients look like the best version of themselves, never fake, always warm. In a world full of filters, her work feels honest.
Some photographers work with people. Others, like Pharahnaz Naveed, wait patiently for birds to land on the perfect branch. She is a wildlife photographer known for her calm, stunning shots of birds found across Sindh.
Wildlife photography takes a lot of patience. You have to sit quietly for hours, know when to click, and understand how animals behave. Pharahnaz captures bulbuls mid-song, egrets in mid-flight, and kingfishers with water droplets still falling from their beaks. Her photos are peaceful and detailed, you can almost hear the rustling leaves or chirping in the background.
Her work reminds us that beauty doesn’t always scream for attention. Sometimes, it sits quietly on a tree, waiting to be noticed. In a noisy world, Pharahnaz offers a slower, gentler view.
Saadia Sehar Haidari didn’t choose photojournalism, it found her during one of the most painful moments of her life. After her husband, a journalist, was tragically killed while on duty, Saadia made a decision that few would have had the courage to make. She picked up the camera and stepped into the same field that had taken her partner away. But she wasn’t doing it just for him, she was doing it for herself too. Saadia became Pakistan’s first employed female photojournalist. She worked with well-known outlets like Reuters and the Associated Press of Pakistan, covering everything from political protests and natural disasters to daily life and human interest stories. Her work has won her many awards, including the Press Freedom Award and the Best Photojournalist of the Year. What makes her story powerful is not just her success, but the fact that she opened a door for other women. She proved that women don’t belong on the side-lines, they belong behind the camera, right in the middle of the action.
Insiya Syed’s photos are calm, quiet, and deeply emotional. She covers serious topics, human rights, underreported groups, and day-to-day life in Pakistan, but she does it in a way that never feels harsh. Her work stands out because it feels close and personal, without ever crossing a line. Her photos might show a girl doing homework by candlelight, or a protester standing peacefully with a sign. They’re not loud or dramatic. They’re small moments that speak volumes. That’s what makes her special. Insiya doesn’t chase fame. She prefers to let her photos speak for her. In a field where women are still few and far between, she has carved out space quietly, but powerfully.
