The Illustrious Woman Project

The Portrait Project exclusively for woman over 40.

The What:

It’s just $250. It includes a photo session with hair, make up, wardrobe, any needed retouch, and a copy of your image that has been chosen for the book. That’s a 5x7 print matted to fit an 8x10 frame.

You’ll be dressed in a pastel satin gown holding a pair of your old high heel shoes that you once loved but now hurt too much to wear. They’re a symbol of all the things we’ve loved and lost in our lives. Things we still love and will always hold dear, even if the time for them has passed. The only requirement is that you must be over 40 to qualify for the session.

Attendees of the 2024 Women of the Lowcountry Summit may have the 250.00 fee waived with proof of attendance. Ask for details.

The Why?

Very few photographers turn their cameras in the direction of older women. But then, few older women WANT a camera pointed their way. We think we look terrible. We have wrinkles. Bulges. Zero waistline. Necks that… well. Necks.

We think we don’t look like ourselves. The woman on the inside doesn’t look like that aging lady on the outside. We don’t much like to be reminded of what has been lost. Most of us miss that inner girl, even those of us happy in our mature lives.

My mother got me started on this. She passed away a few years ago at age 91. As I cleaned out her home, I discovered out she’d thrown away all her pictures. The whole drawer was empty. I have a few but the best of the best are gone. Me…this great, world-renowned photographer…had never brought her into my studio to get the great shots. She’d have fought me tooth and nail because she truly hated to have her picture taken. And I didn’t want to fight.

Then, she was gone and I have only a handful of lousy snapshots. There’s no portrait that shows her beauty, or her strength, or her wistful hopes. Nothing. A few 1970’s snapshot of her at a wedding. She disliked selfies, snapshots, or business headshots. So I started on a mission to learn how to photograph older women in way that showcases them and minimizes their age without pretending it doesn’t exist. Because daughters, like me, need these photos.

That need became this project. It’s a book project that immortalizes the stories, beauty, and power of our older women. It’s going on 3 years since I started documenting older women for this project. It might take another 3 years to finish but, one day, enough women will have been brave enough take part and the book will be done.

If you’re among the brave ones, give me a call to line up our session. 843-800-0201.

In all the world, past and present, there is only one you.

We’ll need decent pictures of you!