Carol Allen-Storey
Carol Allen-Storey is an award-winning documentary photographer, originally from New York and now based in London. She is widely recognised for her powerful visual storytelling that focuses on humanitarian and social issues, particularly the lives of marginalised communities. In 2009, she was appointed a UNICEF ambassador for photography in recognition of her advocacy through imagery.
She holds a Master’s degree with distinction from Central St Martins, awarded in 2000. Her approach to photography is deeply collaborative, built on trust and mutual respect between photographer and subject.
Allen-Storey’s work explores some of the most pressing social and humanitarian issues of our time, with a particular focus on marginalised communities affected by conflict, disease, poverty and displacement. Her projects often highlight women and children living in vulnerable circumstances, including those affected by HIV, disability, or the trauma of war. Each body of work reflects her conviction in the power of photography to evoke empathy and foster awareness.
She has worked extensively with NGOs such as UNICEF, Comic Relief, Save the Children, International Alert and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Her long-form series, such as The AMAHORO Generation, Defying the Myth, and Fractured Lives, demonstrates her enduring commitment to both witness and advocacy. Storey’s imagery seeks to move viewers from passive observers to participants in social change.
In addition to her photographic practice, Carol Allen-Storey plays an active role in education, mentorship and the wider photography community. She lectures at Central St Martins and regularly contributes to portfolio reviews and workshops, including with the Association of Photographers, the British Professional Press Association, and Westminster University. She has judged numerous prestigious awards, including those for the British Journal of Photography, the Ian Parry Award, and Photoworks.
Storey currently serves as Chair of the Advisory Board for the Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant and is a founding member of the World Photography Academy for the SONY Awards. She is also a patron of The Photographers’ Gallery and has sat on the boards of the AOP and BPPA. As a mentor, she continues to support emerging photographers, helping to shape the future of socially engaged documentary work.
Storey’s philosophy is rooted in collaboration and respect. Her artist statement reflects a conviction that photographs can spark meaningful conversations and challenge preconceptions. Drawing influence from Susan Sontag, she sees photography not as a conclusion, but as an invitation to action. Her commitment to human rights and social justice is evident in both her process and the enduring emotional power of her images.
Carol Allen-Storey’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at the National Portrait Gallery, Royal Festival Hall, Somerset House, House of Parliament, and South Bank in the UK; and at the Power House in New York, the European Union HQ in Brussels, the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo, the DR Congo, Berlin, Moscow, and the Czech Republic.
Solo exhibitions include The AMAHORO Generation, CROSSINGS, TEENS and the Loneliness of AIDS, FRACTURED LIVES, Children of Hope, Anything Is Possible, The Vanishing Assets of Africa and The Savagery and Poetry of Africa.