Sonia Simbolo
Info
Sonia Simbolo is a freelance photographer based in Rome, finding in street photography the meeting point between her work and passion. Working in event and portrait photography, she has learned to look at everyday life through changing perspectives: the street has taught her the freedom to express herself without fear, exploring different ways to observe and interpret the world around her. Her gaze embraces both the world and her inner universe. As poet Hugo von Hofmannsthal wrote: “we discover in the world only what we already have within ourselves; but we need the world to discover what lies within ourselves.”
Born in Rome in 1985, Sonia Simbolo graduated in Literature and later obtained a Master’s degree in Counselling. In 2014, she enrolled in a photography course and unexpectedly discovered her true passion. For almost seven years, photography remained her second occupation, until becoming her sole professional activity in 2022. Now an established professional photographer, she focuses on events and portrait photography. For two years, she led a photography workshop for young people affected by psychiatric disorders at the day-care centre “La Fabbrica dei Sogni”, resulting in a group exhibition during the Mental Health Festival “Ro.Mens” (2022–2024). She continued her educational work by leading a photography workshop within the Art and Psychology Festival “Maps” (2025) and teaching photography at the cultural association “L’Isola dell’Arte” (2025–present). 2022 was also a pivotal year in her artistic journey, when she discovered street photography. A student of renowned photographers such as Franco Fontana, Gustavo Minas, Susana Barbera and Stefano Mirabella, she has received numerous recognitions in national and international competitions, including: four Honourable Mentions at the “Paris Street Photo Awards” (2023); finalist at “Women Street Photographers” (2023, 2024, 2025); second place and Honourable Mention at the “Annual Photography Awards” (2023); third place (2024, 2026) and Honourable Mention (2026) at the “Black And White Photo Awards”; semifinalist at the “Urban Photo Awards” (2024); finalist at the “Rome Photo Lab” (2024, 2025, 2026); second place at the “StreetAvengers” contest (2024); finalist (2025) and Honourable Mention (2026) at the “B&W Awards” by Street Macadam; third place at the “Memorial Franco Pontiggia – Ritratti di strada” (2025); second place at the “Oslo Street Photo Festival” (2025); finalist at the “ÈFfestival Awards” (2025), “Ecos Cardinales” (2025), “Women Street Photographers Artist Residency” (2025), “Livorno Photo Meeting” (2025), “Dublin Street Photography Festival” (2026), “London Photo Fest” (2026), “Brussels Street Photography Festival” (2026) and “LensCulture Street Photography Awards” (2026); Honourable Mention at the “Street Macadam Awards” (2025) and “Fotoslovo Awards” (2025); and “Commended” at the “Siena Awards” (2025). She is a member of the international collective “Women Street Photographers”, founded by photographer Gulnara Lyabib Samoilova, and one of the curators of the international street photography platform “StreetAvengers”. She has held two solo exhibitions, “Sonia non sognare” and “Verso Converso” (2023), and participated in international group exhibitions including “100 Years 100 Women” in Paris (2024) and at the “Mexico Street Photo Fest” (2025), “Seen By Her” in Jakarta (2025), “Fotografar Palavras” in Leiria (2025), and “Through Her Eyes” at the “Mexico Street Photo Fest” (2026). Her work has been published in “BestSelected” (2023), “Street Journey in Italy” (2024), “Trois Points”, “Des_Photomag”, “Bibin Photography Magazine” and “Eyeshot” (2025), and “Nicolosi. Street Spirit” (2026). She has been interviewed and featured in “The Street Rover” (2024), “Collater.al” (2025), “FIAF” and “LJA.MX” (2026). She has served as a jury member for the “Ecos Cardinales Vol. V” and “RomaÈfestival” contests (2026).