The vision of WPOW emerged from the desire to give women visual journalists in the Washington, D.C. area the opportunity for community and mentorship. Our members capture both the excitement and the horror of our world, but often don’t get the support necessary in an industry that can be competitive and insular. 

WPOW was founded by photojournalists Sarah Voisin, Melina Mara and Allison Shelley in 2006. When co-founder Voisin moved to Washington, D.C. in the 1990s, she was invited to be part of a dynamic group of women photojournalists that gathered periodically to socialize and lend support. Mara was previously involved in a similar community in Seattle. However, the D.C. area group found it hard to sustain momentum through the decades. This sparked conversations between the three founders on how to build and sustain this type of community in the long run.

When the founders held their first event in 2006, women of all ages and professional levels packed the space. It was very clear this community was wanted and needed. The founders began to create a structure where the members have ownership, responsibility and where momentum continues because the work is shared. WPOW thrives because it has an organized and rotating roster of volunteers including the directors, officers and seven committees.