Though trained as an agricultural economist, Ethiopian female photographer Addis has had a long and enchanting affair with photography from a very young age. Highly influenced by both her mother and grandfather, who were photographers, Addis began her life with photography in her mother’s studio where she used to help her develop analog photos. Her mother’s studio acted as a hands-on introduction to commercial photography. However, things didn’t take off until she met her grandfather, a person that greatly influenced her decision to fully pursue photography. Addis grew up comprehending that photography has the power to preserve the past and the present to the future.

By attending her first photography workshop at the Creative Futures Program under the mentorship of Michael Tsegaye, she retrospect her grandfather that opened the first photo studio in small town in the Amhara region of Ethiopia The relationship she fostered with Sifew Tebeje her grandfather served as her first project and an important gateway that cemented her profession as a photographer.

In recent years, Addis’ work has been featured in group exhibitions like Blank Wall Gallery in Athens, Greece; Center for Photography in Ethiopia; Addis Foto Fest 2018, Ethiopia; Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway; Homebound: A Journey in Photography at Sharjah Art Museum in UAE & Still I rise:In Abidjan côte d’ivoire.

Addis was under the mentorship program of Aida Muluneh, and as for her involvement in additional activities besides being a photographer; she was also part of the organizing team for Addis Foto Fest, the biggest photography festival in East Africa. Recently, Addis has served as an official photographer to Her Excellency Sahle-Work Zewde, the first female president of Ethiopia. Currently Addis Aemero is a freelance photographer.