Photography in Bangladesh has undergone a quiet but striking transformation over the past decade. Once largely dominated by men, the field has expanded both creatively and socially, with a new generation of photographers reshaping its visual language.
Women, long understated behind the lens, are now steadily claiming space, not just participating but influencing the direction of the industry itself.
Sheikh Suraiya Rehnuma is part of that shift. She did not set out with a grand plan to become one of the country’s most recognisable young fashion photographers. Instead, her journey began almost incidentally during her architecture studies at BRAC University.
When she noticed her classmates picking up cameras, she asked her parents for one too. They agreed, a small decision that would quietly alter the course of her life. Her first camera, a Nikon D800, would go on to shape a future neither she nor her family had anticipated.
By 2020, Rehnuma had set up a small studio of her own, “Lenzkraft”, and by 2021 she began working professionally. Very quickly, she realised what truly excited her, the art of staged storytelling. She enjoyed building scenes, shaping light, and planning each frame with intention.
Street photography did not appeal to her, nor did weddings. She was drawn instead to fashion, a space where imagination could be constructed, refined, and captured exactly as she envisioned.
Rehnuma’s family played an essential role throughout her journey. Their encouragement allowed her to take risks, experiment, and learn in her own way. Entirely self-taught, she has never worked under anyone, something she admits she sometimes regrets.
Every technique, every production decision, and every mistake was learned through trial and error. “If I had worked under someone earlier, maybe I would have learned faster,” she says. “But this was my path, and I learnt by messing up.”
Building a production house came with its own challenges. Leadership, delegation, and resisting the urge to micromanage were skills she had to develop over time. She notes that in Bangladesh, art is often seen as distant from everyday life, shaped by conservative norms and limited cultural exposure. “We aren’t raised with art. We must prepare it from scratch,” she says.
Yet she has never felt defined by her gender within the industry. “The industry looks for good work, not whether you’re a man or a woman,” she says confidently. Still, she acknowledges the additional weight women often carry, including household responsibilities, safety concerns, and reduced personal freedom. “These are struggles of life,” she says. “We go through them and keep moving.”
Her idea of balance is refreshingly candid. “There’s nothing called balance. It’s just something we say to make life make sense,” she says with a laugh. Feeling drained, overwhelmed, or frustrated is normal, especially when building something from the ground up, she adds.
One story reveals just how central her support system has been. During a major shoot, a miscommunication left her set unprepared on the day. Without panicking, Rehnuma improvised, turning a space in her in-laws’ home into a makeshift studio. Her mother cooked for the entire crew. “When your family supports you, chasing your dreams becomes so much easier,” she says.
Despite her creative growth, Rehnuma identifies one key challenge that held her back, a lack of financial literacy. “We aren’t raised to understand money,” she explains. “When I started Lenzkraft, I focused only on creativity. But that’s not sustainable.” After five years of running her studio, she is now learning to balance artistry with financial responsibility, a shift she sees as essential for long-term success.
Today, she works with leading brands such as Yellow, Kurtana, Menka, Amishee and Guzel, among others. Her process is thoughtful and immersive. She studies a brand’s message, connects emotionally with the product, and builds a story around it.
Sheikh Suraiya Rehnuma stands as a reminder that passion, patience, and resilience can create something extraordinary. Her journey shows that with courage, curiosity, and the right support, it is possible to build a life far beyond what one once imagined.
