Madison Hosted Summit for Black Female Photographers

The Cap Times event highlighted the careers and experiences of prominent Black women in the photography industry.

Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in African-American

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a film camera on a tripod, representing professional photography as a creative career path. — The Cap Times hosted a summit for Black female photographers in Madison, highlighting professional career paths and industry representation. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Cap Times held a photojournalism summit at the Center for Black Excellence and Culture in Madison. The event showcased the work and professional journeys of accomplished Black women in the field.

Why it matters

The summit aimed to empower Black voices and provide young creatives with insight into photography as a viable career path. By featuring experienced professionals, the event sought to foster representation and inspiration within the industry.

Angela Peterson, an award-winning Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographer, spent over a year embedding with 700 residents at the Greentree-Teutonia Apartments to document their lives.

The players

Angela Peterson

She is an award-winning photographer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel who completed an O'Brien Fellowship in 2024.

Polly Irungu

She is a photographer in the office of Maryland Governor Wes Moore and the founder of Black Women Photographers.

Sharon Farmer

She is a former White House photographer who began her career in the mid-1990s.

The details

The summit featured a two-part panel consisting of a formal presentation and a moderated discussion with industry experts. Attendees heard perspectives on navigating male-dominated spaces and building long-term trust within the communities being documented.

The summit took place on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
Angela Peterson completed her O'Brien Fellowship in 2024.
Sharon Farmer worked in male-dominated photography spaces during the mid-1990s.

Culture Shift

This summit reflects a broader trend of institutional efforts to dismantle barriers for Black women in journalism. By drawing on experiences dating back to the 1990s, the event highlights the evolution of representation in professional media spaces.

Local aspiring creatives in Madison gained direct access to professional strategies for building sustainable careers in media. The event provided residents with a roadmap for utilizing photography as a tool for community advocacy.

The takeaway

Building deep, long-term trust with subjects is a cornerstone of impactful photojournalism. Young photographers can leverage these professional insights to navigate industry challenges and pursue meaningful storytelling projects.