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 in 2022 it became her sole professional activity.
Now a fully 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 held 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 began teaching photography at the cultural association “L’Isola dell’Arte” (from 2025 to the present).
However, 2022 was a pivotal year for another reason: she discovered the genre of street photography, which finally allowed her to embark on her artistic journey.
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 winner and Honourable Mention at the “Annual Photography Awards” (2023); third place winner (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 winner at the “StreetAvengers” contest (2024); finalist (2025) and Honourable Mention (2026) at the “B&W Awards” by Street Macadam; third place winner at the “Memorial Franco Pontiggia – Ritratti di strada” (2025); second place winner at the “Oslo Street Photo Festival” (2025); finalist at the “ÈFfestival Awards” (2025); Honourable Mention at the “Street Macadam Awards” (2025); Honourable Mention at the “Fotoslovo Awards” (2025); finalist at “Ecos Cardinales” (2025); finalist at the “Women Street Photographers Artist Residency” (2025); “Commended” at the “Siena Awards” (2025); finalist at the “Livorno Photo Meeting” (2025); finalist at the “Dublin Street Photography Festival” (2026); finalist at the “London Photo Fest” (2026); finalist at the “Brussels Street Photography Festival” (2026).
She is a member of the international collective “Women Street Photographers”, founded by photographer Gulnara Lyabib Samoilova, and is one of the curators of the international street photography platform “StreetAvengers”.
She has held two solo exhibitions: “Sonia non sognare” (2023) and “Verso Converso” (2023).
She has been selected to participate in several international group exhibitions, including “100 Years 100 Women”, exhibited in Paris (2024) and at the “Mexico Street Photo Fest” (October 2025); “Seen By Her”, exhibited in Jakarta (2025); “Fotografar Palavras”, exhibited in Leiria (2025); and “Through Her Eyes”, exhibited during the “Mexico Street Photo Fest” (October 2026).
Her work has been published in “BestSelected” (2023), “Street Journey in Italy” (2024), “Trois Points” (2025), “Des_Photomag” (2025), “Bibin Photography Magazine” (2025), “Eyeshot” (2025), and “Nicolosi. Street Spirit” (2026).
She has been interviewed and featured in “The Street Rover” (2024), “Collater.al” (2025), “FIAF” (2026), and “LJA.MX” (2026).
She has served as a jury member for the “Ecos Cardinales Vol. V” contest (2026) and the “RomaÈfestival” contest (2026).
