As 2025 dawns, the photography world stands poised for a creative renaissance. From storytelling through evocative portraits to redefining how landscapes and urban spaces are captured, a new wave of photographers is making its mark. These artists, drawn from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, have begun reshaping the visual narrative of our time. Let us delve into the stories and works of ten emerging photographers who are set to captivate the art world this year.
1. Maria Oliveira: The Poet of Light and Shadow
Maria Oliveira’s work exudes intimacy and subtlety. Based in Lisbon, her portfolio captures fleeting moments of everyday life through a lens that feels deeply personal. Her series, Luz no Silêncio, explores the relationship between natural light and human emotion, presenting subjects bathed in soft shadows that evoke nostalgia. Maria’s process often involves waiting patiently for the perfect moment when light transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Recognized at the 2024 Feature Shoot Emerging Photography Awards, Maria’s work resonates with collectors drawn to tender, emotive storytelling. Her upcoming exhibition at Lisbon’s Museu da Fotografia will showcase a new series inspired by the poetry of Fernando Pessoa.
2. Yusuf Eminoglu: Mastering Urban Narratives
Istanbul’s bustling streets come alive through Yusuf Eminoglu’s lens. His striking compositions blend architectural symmetry with candid human moments, painting a vivid portrait of city life. Yusuf’s recent series, Concrete Pulse, documents the intersection of tradition and modernity in urban spaces. His photographs often feature a mix of vibrant colors and muted tones, creating a dynamic interplay that captures the spirit of his hometown. Having exhibited at the 2024 Istanbul Biennial, he is fast becoming a key voice in contemporary urban photography. Yusuf is currently working on a project exploring the rapidly changing skyline of Istanbul, which he plans to release as a photo book in late 2025.
3. Julia Gunther: Amplifying Marginalized Voices
Julia Gunther is not just a photographer—she is an activist with a camera. Based in Berlin, Julia focuses on stories from underrepresented communities worldwide. Her ongoing project, Resilient Roots, highlights the strength of women in South African townships. Combining vibrant color palettes with raw emotion, Julia’s work is as much about advocacy as it is about art. Her photography often incorporates collaborative elements, giving her subjects a voice in how their stories are told. In 2025, she plans to expand her focus to include indigenous communities in South America. Julia’s work has been featured in international publications, and she recently signed a partnership with a global NGO to document climate change’s impact on vulnerable populations.
4. Aisha Seriki: Exploring Identity and Heritage
Aisha Seriki’s photography is a powerful exploration of her dual Nigerian-British identity. Her portraits and self-portraits delve into themes of diaspora, belonging, and tradition. Her recent series, Omo Naija, reimagines Yoruba cultural aesthetics through a modern lens, featuring bold colors and intricate patterns that pay homage to her heritage. Aisha’s work often incorporates textiles and artifacts passed down through generations, creating a tactile connection to her subjects’ stories. Aisha’s inclusion in the Nikon Emerging Photographer Award 2024 shortlist cemented her status as a rising star, and her upcoming solo exhibition in London promises to be a defining moment in her career. She is also working on a documentary series exploring the lives of second-generation immigrants in the UK.
5. Ali Tahayori: Bridging Generations Through Imagery
Iranian-born Ali Tahayori’s work seeks to connect the past and present. His series, Forgotten Epilogues, captures stories from elders in his hometown, juxtaposing their portraits with artifacts of their youth. Ali’s minimalist approach allows the emotional depth of his subjects to take center stage. His photography often incorporates handwritten letters and diary entries, adding a deeply personal dimension to his work. Recognized by the Nikon Emerging Photographer Award in 2024, Ali’s work has garnered international acclaim for its poignant storytelling. In 2025, he plans to collaborate with historians to document oral histories from remote villages in Iran, blending photography with archival research.
6. Caroline Tompkins: Reframing Everyday Life
Caroline Tompkins has an uncanny ability to find beauty in the mundane. Her work often focuses on fleeting moments—a sunlit window, a crumpled bedsheet, or a half-eaten meal. Caroline’s series, Soft Corners, transforms these seemingly banal subjects into objects of contemplation. Her photography is characterized by its warm color palette and gentle compositions, which invite viewers to pause and reflect. A finalist for the Nikon Emerging Photographer Award, she continues to redefine how we perceive the everyday. Caroline is currently experimenting with analog techniques, and her upcoming series will explore themes of time and decay through the lens of abandoned spaces.
7. Charlie Tallott: The Innovator of Light
Lighting is Charlie Tallott’s signature, and his experimental techniques have turned heads across the industry. Based in New York, Charlie’s work often features bold contrasts and unconventional light sources. His latest project, Luminescence, is a study in bioluminescent materials, blending art and science in a visually arresting series. Charlie’s innovative use of light often transforms his subjects into ethereal figures, creating a dreamlike quality in his images. Collectors and critics alike are drawn to Charlie’s ability to push the boundaries of photographic technique. In 2025, he plans to host workshops focusing on creative lighting for photographers looking to expand their skill set.
8. Inês d’Orey: Architect of Spaces
Inês d’Orey’s work occupies the intersection of photography and architecture. Her series, Structural Echoes, reimagines familiar buildings as abstract compositions. By focusing on patterns, reflections, and textures, Inês transforms the mundane into the extraordinary. Her photography often blurs the line between reality and abstraction, challenging viewers to rethink their perceptions of space. Her recent exhibition in Porto garnered critical acclaim, and she’s set to debut a new body of work at the 2025 Venice Biennale. Inês is also collaborating with urban planners to create a photographic study of sustainable architecture in Europe.
9. Isabelle Young: Emotion Through Portraiture
Isabelle Young’s portraits are a window into the soul. Her work captures unguarded moments that feel deeply human. Isabelle’s series, Beneath the Surface, explores themes of vulnerability and resilience, particularly among young adults navigating mental health challenges. Her photography often incorporates symbolic elements, such as mirrors and water, to convey deeper emotional layers. As a finalist in the Nikon Emerging Photographer Award 2024, Isabelle has cemented her place as a significant voice in contemporary portraiture. She is currently developing a multimedia project that combines photography with spoken word poetry.
10. Johnny Mae Hauser: The Storyteller
Johnny Mae Hauser’s work is steeped in narrative, often drawing from his own experiences growing up in the American Midwest. His series, Rust and Reverie, captures the juxtaposition of decay and nostalgia in rural landscapes. Johnny’s ability to weave personal history with universal themes has earned him a devoted following. His photographs often include handwritten captions or snippets of poetry, adding a literary quality to his work. His upcoming book, set for release in late 2025, is already generating significant buzz in the photography world. Johnny is also planning a traveling exhibition that will feature his photography alongside interactive installations.