© Sherrie Ng

Growing up in an all-girl’s school, gender inequality was never really an issue to me as we were taught that men and women were equal without much applicable practice since we were always surrounded by other girls. With it being Spice Girl era at that time – girl power was big.

As an adult now in the ‘real world’, being treated as a girl has its pros and cons and ChiqClicks seeks to celebrate all that is great about being a woman in the field of photography. Whether it is empowerment through self-expression or self-employment, or simple and fun things like dressing up our camera with fashionable accessories.

As the editor of this 1-month old blog – hunting down women photographers has inspired me beyond my own expectations. There’s the kindness of women whom I’ve never met before and helped me with content even before the website was launched, such as Linda Gavin and Asther Lau, who continues to strongly support ChiqClicks (thank you!). Photography was feeling like ‘work’ to me until Gabriella Bullisova‘s interview of her photo projects of Iraqi refugees gave me new perspectives and direction on how to use photography in advocacy.

The lovely Suzanne Lee inspired me to improve the quality of my images and see a story in each click of the camera. And every time I go near the sea, I see flashes of Au Yong Seok Wun’s amazing underwater photos. And of course there’s Sherrie Ng and Anna-Rina Rahim, friends of mine who supported me with great content.

Not forgetting a big thank you to ChiqClicks’ supportive readers, both male and female. Many male photographers have moaned that they will never get featured ChiqClicks unless they get a sex change. Mike Tee, my sounding board for ideas and web enterprise advisor, joked that he will franchise a DiqClicks.com. So no one will be left out

With an amazing first month, I’m looking forward to bringing more quality content on ChiqClicks ranging from:

• More interviews with amazing women photographers
• ‘How tos’ from fellow women photographers
• Cute and girly camera accessories/gear reviews
• Sponsors and advertisers (only those endorsed by ChiqClicks) who would also hopefully give readers some awesome freebies

Have a contact to recommend? Have an idea to suggest? Comment on this post or write to me at editor[at]chiqclicks[dot]com

In the meantime, in thinking about being a woman or women’s place in this world, I highly recommend this inspiring TedTalk by Eve Ensler, known for her Vagina Monologue monologues, who teaches us whether male of female to ‘Embrace your Inner Girl’.