49 Inspiring Vintage Photos of Extraordinary Women

Like it? Share it!

Facebook

Pinterest

Reddit

Twitter

Google+

The Suffragist Photographer, Rita Martin (1908)

Flickr

In this case, the person behind the camera is just as phenomenal as her subjects. Margareta “Rita” Weir Martin was a professional English photographer known for supporting and taking pictures of suffragettes like the fierce activist Rosamund Massy. Rita was a famous suffragist herself, and she was inspired by pioneer women photographers of her time, including the leading London portrait photographer Alice Hughes and the United Kingdom’s first female press photographer Christina Bloom. Following the footsteps of the women who inspired and motivated her, Rita opened her own studio, specialized in portraits in pale colors against entirely white backgrounds, and was recognized as one of the best British photographers of her time. Aside from suffragists and actresses, most of her subjects were children. More than her technical skills in posing and lighting, Rita was praised for the kindness and sympathy she exhibited when taking pictures of children. If she were alive today, Rita would’ve been one of the trusted photographers we could tap for a newborn photoshoot.