What happens when more than 130 photographers set out to photograph every woman MP in Parliament? The 40% Project has become one of the largest collaborative portrait projects undertaken in the UK, creating a unique photographic record of a historic moment while showcasing the many different ways photographers approach the art of portraiture.
The 40% Project: a photographic record of women in Parliament
As photographers, we are often told that photography has the power to document history. The challenge is recognising those moments while they are happening.
Following the 2024 General Election, women reached a new milestone in British politics, making up around 40% of Parliament. Rather than simply noting the statistic, the Royal Photographic Society Women in Photography Group set out to create a photographic record of it.
Help Bring The 40% Project Book Into Print
More than 130 photographers have volunteered their time to create a unique photographic record of the women who now make up 40% of Parliament. The photographs have been made, the book is being designed — now we need your help to publish it.
📖 Follow the Kickstarter & Get Notified on Launch
Be among the first to secure a copy of the book and help preserve this important photographic archive.
The ambition was simple: to photograph every woman MP in the UK Parliament.
More than 130 women photographers from across the UK volunteered to take part, from students taking on a major portrait assignment for the first time to experienced professionals with decades of experience. Together, they photographed MPs in Westminster, constituency offices, town halls, farms, factories, schools, historic buildings, and wherever a busy MP could spare fifteen minutes.
For the photographers involved, the project became a fascinating exercise in portrait-making under pressure. Many sittings lasted just 15–30 minutes. Locations were unfamiliar, access was limited, schedules changed at short notice, and lighting was rarely ideal. Yet these constraints often produced some of the most creative and compelling work.
There was no house style. Each photographer was encouraged to bring her own visual voice to the assignment. Some portraits are formal and carefully composed; others are environmental portraits rich with context. Some use natural light, while others use more constructed lighting techniques. Together, the portraits create a remarkable record not only of women in Parliament, but of contemporary portrait photography itself.
The project is now nearing completion, and the portraits are being brought together in a major photobook: The 40% Project: Inspiring Women Photographed by Women.
The book will feature hundreds of portraits alongside reflections from photographers and MPs, creating a unique visual document of this moment in British history.
But, like many independent photographic publishing projects, the book needs community support to become a reality.
Photography has always been about more than making pictures. At its best, it creates a visual record that future generations can return to and understand. The 40% Project is our attempt to do exactly that.
Help Bring The 40% Project Book Into Print
More than 130 photographers have volunteered their time to create a unique photographic record of the women who now make up 40% of Parliament. The photographs have been made, the book is being designed — now we need your help to publish it.
📖 Follow the Kickstarter & Get Notified on Launch
Be among the first to secure a copy of the book and help preserve this important photographic archive.
Become a member
If you are not an RPS Women in Photography group member, we invite you to join our community of passionate photographers. By becoming a member, you can participate in exciting competitions, gain exposure through features in our prestigious WE ARE Magazine, and enjoy numerous other exclusive benefits.
We extend a warm welcome to photographers of all backgrounds and experience levels.
← Visit the Women In Photography homepage, to find out more about us!