40 incredible women over 40.
The faces of the Your Face, Your Story Project 2024.
It was a momentous occasion this week as after 2 months I met my 40th fabulous female for the Your Face, Your Story Project.
I ran into lovely Bev when I was up at The Corner this morning and she told me how much she loved following along with this project. As I said to her, I never expected this project to affect me as much as it has and that these women have given me so much.
My photography journey has taught me more than I can ever know. My landscapes will always be part of my heart. They keep me sane, give me hope, and ground me every single day. It is an extraordinary thing to start the day with something beautiful. Because the more you look for beauty, the more you find it.
My portraits have been a journey of discovery. I realised long ago that I am useless at just turning up and taking photos. Someone said to me a while ago, "I don't know why you can't just show up, take some photos, and email them to me?" I tried to tell them that I don't work that way. Others do and they are bloody brilliant at it but when I have tried it, I am beyond average.
Portraiture for me is a journey. Photos are one of the only things that we truly leave behind. They are our legacy and they are important. I know I work slowly and am completely open to the fact that I am not everybody's cup of tea.
I work best when I get to know my subjects. And then I can create a space where people can be themselves and that is when the magic happens.
This project started off as a gem of an idea many moons ago and it scared me a little bit to bring it to fruition. I wasn't sure if people would get it, if people would want to get involved and Imposter Sydnrrome had a field day in my head. To see it underway fills my heart with joy.
This incredible group of women ranging from 40 to 77 have given me more than they can ever know. There is a common theme of being survivors and there is also the subsequent theme of hope. There are activists, authors, creatives, mothers, dreamers, wives, performers, dreamers, and survivors.
Thank you to every single woman brave enough to sign up for this project. They signed up to celebrate themselves, just the way they are. They also signed up to inspire other women.
The Your Face, Your Story Project is all about celebrating the lives of women over 40 and challenging the stereotypes of women and ageing.
Thank you to every one of these beautiful women for taking part.
And thank you to everyone for following along.
I look forward to sharing the faces and stories of these 40 women over 40 in the coming months.
xxxLara
Beauty, hope, joy, & inspiration.
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