Kisumu: On the bustling streets of Kisumu City, brightly coloured umbrellas dot the pavements as cameras click in quick succession and pedestrians pause briefly to pose for photographs. Around the city centre, street photography has quietly become a source of income for dozens of young people seeking to survive in an economy where formal jobs remain scarce. Yet amid the growing trade, one thing stands out: the field is overwhelmingly dominated by men.
According to Kenya News Agency, near the entrance to the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds, a cluster of photographers moves swiftly between potential clients, offering instant portraits to shoppers, couples, and visitors. Among them stands 24-year-old Monica Sharon, the only woman in the group. Armed with a camera slung across her shoulder and an easy smile that helps her approach strangers, Monica is steadily carving out her place in a profession many around her still consider a man’s world.
Born and raised in Kisumu, Monica says photography was never part of a carefully laid career plan. Like many young Kenyans navigating unemployment, she simply wanted a way to earn an honest living and gain financial independence. “I had a dream, but I didn’t have connections. Everything started during the December holidays last year when I met my friend Luke, who was already doing street photography. He was looking for someone to work with, and I decided to join him,” she says.
What began as an experiment soon turned into a full-time hustle. Today, Monica spends long hours on the streets photographing clients and editing pictures on the spot before sending them digitally or printing them for customers. She charges about Sh.100 per photo, though her daily earnings fluctuate sharply depending on foot traffic and the season. “On good days, especially during holidays, business is very good,” she says. “But there are days you can spend the whole day outside and go home with almost nothing. Sometimes I only make Sh100.”
Street photography in Kisumu has expanded rapidly in recent years, particularly among unemployed youth drawn by the relatively low entry barriers compared to other businesses. Many photographers operate around busy areas such as Oginga Odinga Street, Kibuye Market, Victoria Park, Taifa Park, Uhuru Park, and the Sports Grounds, relying on walk-in customers and social media referrals. But behind the colourful photos and lively interactions lies a demanding job that requires persistence, confidence, and patience.
“You have to know how to talk to people and convince them. You interact with many different personalities every day. If you are quick-tempered, you cannot survive in this job,” she says. For Monica, however, the challenge goes beyond the unpredictability of income. Being a woman in a male-dominated trade has often meant having to constantly prove herself. “Some people don’t believe women can do this kind of work. At first, people would make comments or dismiss me. But with time, they begin to understand that I’m serious about what I do,” she says.
Her decision to venture into photography was initially met with resistance at home. “When I told my family I wanted to do street photography, they said it was a man’s job,” she recalls. “But I believed in myself and kept pushing. Now they can see it is what sustains my rent, my food, and my daily needs.” Despite the skepticism, Monica says the work has given her something she values deeply: independence. The earnings may not always be stable, but they allow her to support herself without depending on anyone else. She hopes that one day the same hustle will help her establish her own photography company and create opportunities for others.
“I believe that in future I will have my own photography business and employ other young people. I want to grow beyond the streets,” she says. She also encourages young people not to dismiss small opportunities as they pursue bigger dreams. “Life does not always favour everyone. Sometimes your dream may delay, but whatever opportunity comes first, use it to move closer to where you want to be,” she says.
Her colleague, fellow street photographer Felix Owino, says working alongside Monica has challenged many assumptions about women in the trade. “It has been a good experience working with her because on the streets we meet different types of clients with different beliefs. There are customers who specifically prefer her to take their photos because they feel more comfortable with her,” he says. According to Owino, such preferences are less about technical ability and more about personal connection. “It is not about skill because she is equally capable. Some clients just feel she understands them better,” he adds.
Owino, who joined the photography group after Monica, says she was among the people who helped him settle into the business. “When I arrived, she had already adapted to the work. She welcomed me and showed me how to approach customers and handle the job,” he says. He describes her as cooperative in an industry where competition can sometimes become intense. “Even when customers prefer her, she still believes in teamwork,” he says. “She is always willing to help.”
Like many informal businesses, street photography is highly competitive. Photographers often compete on pricing, with some lowering rates to attract customers. “You may find one photographer charging Sh.100 while another charges Sh. 50 just to get clients,” Owino says. The rise of smartphone photography and affordable digital cameras has transformed street photography into an accessible source of income for many urban youth across Kenya. Yet women remain underrepresented in many visual storytelling professions. While Kenya lacks comprehensive official data on photographers by gender, women are estimated to account for roughly 42 per cent of the broader creative industry workforce, reflecting a persistent imbalance in many creative fields.
Analysts attribute the disparity to factors such as expensive equipment, limited access to professional networks, safety concerns, and long-standing social stereotypes around women working in public spaces. Globally, the challenges mirror Monica’s experience. A survey by Women Photograph, an international organisation supporting female visual journalists, found that many women photographers report facing discrimination, sexism, and fewer opportunities compared to their male counterparts. Still, more women are slowly stepping into spaces once considered out of bounds.
For Monica, every photograph she takes is about more than earning a living. It is also a quiet statement that women belong in every profession, even on the busy streets of Kisumu, camera in hand, competing shoulder to shoulder with men. As evening falls and the crowds begin to thin, she remains on the pavement, scanning the streets for the next customer and the next opportunity to prove that she belongs.
