Exploring camell: How a Women-Only Photography Community Fosters Safety and Creative Challenge | ISSUE #244

<camell> is a women-only photography community born from the desire to create a space where photography can be enjoyed more freely and for longer. Through photo walks, workshops, exhibitions, and online events, camell nurtures a safe environment where women can focus on their passion for photography—not on skill or experience, but on the simple desire to keep shooting.

The journey began in 2012 with five members as “Camera Girls.” In 2013, the group was incorporated, and in 2022, it was renamed camell to further expand opportunities for women to enjoy photography.
Today, with over 14,000 members and a monthly membership service launched in 2023, camell hosts around 300 members-only events annually, fostering connections through photography and continuing to grow as one of Japan’s largest women-focused photography communities.

In this article, we speak with camell’s founder, Ms. Tanaka, about why she continues to choose a women-only format and why the focus is on the ability to keep shooting, rather than simply taking “good” photos. We also delve into the connections fostered among participants within this framework and the new challenges that lie ahead.

The reason for choosing a women-only format was to create a space where women—even those with partners or families—could participate without worry, and where their families could feel comfortable sending them.

I thought there might be people who would hesitate to join if men were present. As a result, I’m glad that so many women have been able to participate with peace of mind.

While many spaces focus on skill development, camell has always prioritized “enjoying photography in your own way.” Regardless of equipment or experience, a place where women can enjoy photography together in a safe environment is actually quite rare, and I feel that many members truly appreciate it.

Also, as adults, it becomes harder to make new friends or connections. Photography provides a catalyst for expanding one’s circle, making camell an important space for that as well.

Personally, starting camell as a hobby with five friends has brought me more friends and made my life genuinely more enjoyable.

As a photography enthusiast myself, there was a time when I was obsessed with improving my skills and seeking validation. But the more I focused on that, the more I struggled and the less I enjoyed photography. I found myself comparing my work to others more and more.

At some point, I stopped and asked myself, “What does it mean to be good at photography? Do I really need to get better if it’s just a hobby?” If photography is a form of expression, perhaps it can’t be measured solely by skill.

When I let go of the desire for praise and recognition and focused on “shooting in my own way and enjoying it,” I felt a surprising sense of relief. As a result, I was able to capture images that truly felt like my own favorites, more so than during the times I was struggling.

Based on these experiences, camell values enjoyment over skill, and “authenticity” over comparison with others.

We host around 300 members-only events each year at camell, and honestly, every one of them is fun and memorable.
One of the most memorable was this year’s trip to Taiwan. We connected with local photography enthusiasts via Instagram and held our first Japan-Taiwan exchange. It was even more enjoyable than I had imagined. I was surprised and delighted to realize that “photography can help you make friends overseas.”

Until then, I had always thought of Japan and overseas as separate, but that experience made me realize that “the love of photography knows no borders.” I’d like to pursue more international exchanges in the future.

It’s definitely easier to become friends, and above all, I feel a strong sense of “empathy.” Whether it’s sharing joys, worries, hardships, or future aspirations, it’s easier to express and accept these feelings among women.
Seeing members who met through camell travel or spend time together makes me genuinely happy.

We believe that analog experiences can make photography even more engaging than digital, and this philosophy extends to our concept store, soke, a space for shooting, creating, and living with photography. Social media, especially Instagram, makes it easy to compare yourself to others and get caught up in numbers. If your post doesn’t get much response, it can be discouraging.

That’s why I found the analog-focused photo poster project so interesting. It resonated with the world we aim to create, and I felt a sense of kinship with the initiative.

We’re opening our photography shop, soke, this July. It took five years from conception to realization, but we’ve poured our philosophy and ideals into the space. I’d be delighted if people would feel free to stop by and visit.

Honestly, you don’t need to be overly concerned about taking “good” photos. If you’re not in the mood to share or show your work, there’s no need to force yourself.
First, I hope you’ll pick up a camera simply to enjoy your daily life. If you can capture your beloved everyday moments in your own way, that’s more than enough.

camell values “enjoying photography in your own way” over technical skill or external validation. Their approach reminds us that to truly enjoy photography—free from comparison and numbers—we need spaces where it’s safe to fail and feel secure.
Before comparing works, it’s important to first have conversations about photography. This desire to cherish such moments resonates with the philosophy behind cizucu’s photo poster project (ppp).

cizucu will also host its first women-only photo poster project (ppp) on July 12 in Kichijoji, Tokyo. Anyone who identifies as a woman, regardless of photography experience, is welcome to participate. If you love photography, we encourage you to join us.