Vogue Arabia has featured a graduate from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) in its list of female photographers “to know now.”
Sophia Cliffe, who studied BA (Hons) Commercial Photography at AUB from 2015–18, before progressing straight onto MA Photography from 2018–20, was named alongside Hind AlRaeesi, Raheed Allaf, Amina Zaher, Hyku Desesto and Tina Patni in an article titled In Focus: Meet 6 Female Photographers to Know Now.
Having worked with the Fashion Editor at Vogue Arabia over the last couple of months, she explains that she was approached for the feature directly.
“I’ve worked with different teams at Vogue Arabia,” Sophia says, “from beauty still life, to jewellery and even model. To see your work in print is always a lovely feeling – I have a whole stack of magazines in my flat.
“To be featured as a female photographer to watch and being chosen out of such great talent is a huge compliment.”
However, as someone so used to being behind a camera, how does it feel being in front of one?
“[I] absolutely hated it,” Sophia confesses. “I felt like a statue, but it really made me realise how key direction and enthusiasm is behind the camera!”
The feature comes amid a busy period for Sophia, working across several magazines on pieces for luxury brand BVLGARI.
“What I love about my job is you can be shooting the same product, but it’s never shot the same,” she explains. “I worked with a new magazine where we used tiny clay pieces like a scene from art attack.”
Having been an in-house photographer for many years, Sophia says she feels as though her freelance career has only just begun. She describes moving to Dubai in January 2025 from St Albans as “a very scary step that has paid off.”
“I want to continue building my portfolio and client pool. I am really enjoying what I am doing and the freedom of being a freelancer.”
Finally, she gives her one piece of advice for new photography students:
“Don’t be afraid to start at the bottom or take a role that may not fully interest you right now. Sometimes getting your foot in the door is the first step toward bigger opportunities.”
You can read In Focus: Meet 6 Female Photographers to Know Now on Vogue Arabia’s website.
