Fashion Photography alumna awarded grant by PhotoVogue
09 December 2025
2024 BA(Hons) Fashion Photography alumna Narantsetseg Khuyagaahas been awarded the Rising Voice Grant by PhotoVogue, an international repository of the most interesting voices in contemporary photography compiled by global fashion magazine Vogue.
The Rising Voice Grant is one of just three grants awarded to outstanding participants in the PhotoVogue ‘East and Southeast Asian Panorama’ Regional Open Call 2025, which invited artists from East and Southeast Asia - as well as members of their diasporas - to submit work across all genres of photography and video.
Originally from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Narantsetseg’s work explores identity, femininity, and the evolving representation of Mongolian women. It was chosen by PhotoVogue for its originality and strong potential to share the untold stories of Monogolian culture with a global audience.
We chatted to Narantsetseg about her work, her time at Falmouth and her plans to expand her commercial photography career.
When did you first become interested in fashion photography?
I used to take pictures obsessively and towards the end of my time in high school, the world of fashion imagery pulled me in because it let me tell stories through lighting, styling, casting, fashion and beauty. I loved how even the smallest detail could be intentional and how a single image can hold so much emotion and power.
How did you get involved in the PhotoVogue Open Call?
I had been actively applying for grants, and Picter is the main platform I use to find photography opportunities. The PhotoVogue Open Calls felt aligned with the work I was making, with themes of womanhood, identity and heritage. When I saw the call, I knew I wanted to submit to it because it felt like a space where my work could be understood in context, not reduced to aesthetics.
How does it feel to have been selected for the Rising Voice Grant?
It felt surreal – I truly did not expect it! Being listed alongside so many amazing artists brought joy, excitement and a sense of belonging. I felt honoured that the work was selected not only for how it looks, but for the intentions behind it. Being awarded the Rising Voice Grantis also deeply motivating. It gives me momentum, resources and a sense of responsibility to expand the work further.
Why did you choose to come and study at Falmouth?
I chose Falmouth University because I wanted an environment where I could experiment and develop a distinct visual voice without the pressure to perform for others. I really admired the graduates’ work from the Fashion Photography degree, and I felt the course supported individualism while building strong technical skills more than other courses I had come across. The slower pace of country life also helped me develop as a person as well as an artist. The one-to-one tutoring allowed for deeper conversations about the work, and I truly valued the tutors I learned from.
What was the most valuable thing you learned while studying here?
The most valuable thing I learned was that I can grow best when I work at my own pace. Falmouth taught me how to stay committed to making work while also enjoying life, building real friendships and having fun. That balance helped me become more confident, more consistent, and more myself, both as a person and as an artist.
What have you been up to since graduating?
Since graduating, I have moved back to Ulaanbaatar and focused on building my practice. I have been developing new bodies of work, strengthening my portfolio, applying to postgraduate programmes, and actively creating personal projects alongside freelance work. I have also been taking my online presence more seriously and learning how to present myself to a wider audience.
What are you working on next?
Right now, I am developing a new personal project that deconstructs erotic visual language and reframes Asian women’s sensuality through agency and tenderness. In parallel, I am also developing my commercial portfolio and sharpening how I present my work professionally.
All photography: credit Narantsetseg Khuyagaahas