Miikka Pirinen, born in 1985, is a photographer from Helsinki, Finland. He works with photojournalism, features, editorial, and selected commercial projects.
In his documentary work, Pirinen focuses on local views of global social and environmental issues.
He has won six awards in the Finnish Press Photos competition and was shortlisted for the Magnum 30 under 30 prize.
His work has appeared in Europe, the U.S., and China, with clients including The New York Times, The Guardian, Time, and Helsingin Sanomat. Pirinen has served as the chairman of The Finnish Association of Photojournalists, co-founded the Helsinki Street movement, and was part of the Finnish photojournalists' group, Collective 11.
Media clients
The New York Times, The Guardian, Time, The Wall Street Journal, Getty images, How To Spend It, Helsingin Sanomat, Dagens Industri, Image Magazine, Suomen Kuvalehti, Ylioppilaslehti, Basso...
Other clients
Nokia, Y-Foundation, Veikkaus, Finnvera, Sitra, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Miele, Universal Music, We Jazz, Miltton Creative, United Imaginations, Bob The Robot, Ellun Kanat, Touch Worldwide, Exove, Alma 360, Viewmasters...
NGOs
Amnesty International, Red Cross, Greenpeace...
Selected awards
Reportage of the year, Honourable mention - Finnish Press Photos of the year 2019 contest
Portrait of the Year, Honourable Mention - Finnish Press Photos of the year 2018 contest
First prize - Valto Pernu PhotoMarathon - City of ii, FInland 2017
Sports Photo of the Year, Honourable Mention - Finnish Press Photos of the year 2015 contest
Shortlisted - Magnum 30 Under 30 Prize, IdeasTap & Magnum Photo Agency 2015
Portrait of the Year, Honourable Mention - Finnish Press Photos of the year 2013 contest
Sports Photo of the Year - Finnish Press Photos of the year 2013 contest
RAY Together artist grant 2013 for series "The Rare"
PixPalace-Visas Ani Award Finalist 2013, with the series "Stagnant Life”
News Picture of the year - Finnish Press Photos of the year 2011 contest.
Selected exhibitions
Dirty Job, The Finnish Labour Museum Werstas, Tampere 2023
Festival Of Political Photography: One Year After The Elections, group exhibition, Helsinki 4/2016
Next Generation: Young Eyes of Photojournalism (group exhib.), Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki 9/2015
Helsinki Street collective (group exhibition & work shop) , Institut Finlandais, Paris 5/2015
Finnish Press Photos Of The Year 2013 touring group exhibition, Finland 2014
Finalists of Visas de l’ANI / PIXPALACE award (group ex.), Galerie du Bar Floréal, Paris 10/2013
Helsinki Street (solo), Bar No. 9, Helsinki 9/2013
The Rare, RAY Together -project (group exhibition), Central Railway Station, Helsinki 6/2013
Stagnant Life / Yksi Viidestä (solo), Gallery Virka, City Hall, Helsinki 11/2012-1/2013
Helsinki Street collective (group exhibition), Gallery Laboratory, Helsinki 6/2012
Finnish Press Photos Of The Year 2011 touring group exhibition, Finland 2012