Photographing us in Time

In the midst of this never ending winter I got bored. Can you believe it me bored? It seems these days my life has been the “hurry up and wait” kind. When things slow down for me at times during the year with the business my head rises and I fixate on something different, new subject matter perhaps. I get obsessed and the wheels start turning. I look at this as an opportunity to try new things and grow as an artist and a person. I dig for inspiring pieces, read from photographer’s experiences and educated myself on what ever applies to “this” adventure.

Some projects never do surface to the outside they end up more personal works but this one did.

I have been waiting for the right time to touch upon this new project and kept thinking I just wasn’t ready. Then that thought of “I wish I had done that sooner…” crossed my mind. So I decided to go for it.

This first photo here in this post is a photo of my great grandmother Florence. She was 16 years old. A vibrant, young beautiful woman she was. She just had starting dating her husband (my great grandfather). This photo was actually taken at a carnival photo booth. The expression and mood tells the era. I am pretty sure there wasn’t any silly faces in the photo booth back then. Every time I look at this photo I look right into her eyes. I feel her expression and I just want to know more. I wonder if she was directed and positioned in this photo? I am thinking a physical person had to take it and not an automatic machine. Who knows… there are a lot of questions I could have but more importantly I wouldn’t be dreaming my dreams if this photo didn’t exist.

One saying I once heard was “The photo you regret not taking is the one you don’t take”

There you have it.

I asked a few of my amazing clients if I could photograph them in a contemporary glamour style. These are every day real women. It was so refreshing and fun! I often think about years ago when it was actually normal to get your individual portrait taken. What happened? You know, you probably have these old portraits of your great relatives from way back when. I really appreciate it because they did us a favor. They captured time and documented family history and relationships.

I feel so uneasy about this digital age of never printing prints or just thinking your cell phone photo will do. I have 2 old phones that I never printed the photos off so I am completely guilty of this. What will it be like when our grandchildren are grown? Will they be going through old shoeboxes at family gatherings looking at old mementos? Will they be able to get that photo posted on face book from 30 years ago of there grandmother that is now gone? I don’t know the answers but I do know that a physical hard print is truly the most valuable form of photography in my eyes. I could go on and on about this matter but will save that for another time.

Back to the glam girls. I think as a woman we try to put everyone first. We would rather “Just get the kids” or “I’m not looking good so I’ll pass on getting in this group shot” kind of mentality. Well guess what it is time to change that mind set.

When the girls came in to see their photos (which I had printed up hard copies of) I let them review and I was quiet. I wanted to see their reactions and hear their words.

“Wow these actually turned out really good”

“ Oh I really like that one”

“ I haven’t had my photos taken since high school”

“My husband will really like this one”

“This was really fun”

“I am glad I did this”

I felt really good when they left. I captured a time in their lives that they probably would have never thought was important. But it is… it really is.

I dream is to capture more women’s reflections in my lens. I want to photograph women at any age and celebrate everything about you and the people that love you. I want to capture you or even you with your mother, best friend or partner. I want to make you look and feel beautiful and provide you with the best photographs you have ever had.

I want to personally welcome you in for a session with me. It will change the way you see yourself.

“From a girl trying to make a difference”

Yours,

Abby