After a winter hiatus (with full house renovations so no studio to hand), it’s time to come back with a brand new exciting project. I floated the idea last year, but because of everything going on I couldn’t really get it going without the space I needed and half my equipment in the loft.
Plus the longer I’ve sat on the idea and the concept, the more it’s evolved. I absolutely loved The 40/40 Project and the women that I met were incredibly inspiring. I wanted more of that because it brought an acceptance over who I was just by being in their presence. Unknowingly, it created a self acceptance to my perception of ageing. I met so many women on so many different journey’s. From the just widowed, the newly heartbroken. Those going through medical trauma and treatments. Those awaiting results on life changing health matters. I met women who were defying the media’s perception over being a woman over the age of 40. I also met those that embraced the slower lifestyle ageing presented them with. It was incredible. I encountered all the highs and all the lows. Ultimately I came away with a very different view on how to confront the ageing process in a way that was my decision and not impressed upon me by the media. Acceptance, excitement and joy.
The stories moved me, and the portraits I created stirred deep in my soul as the stories came to life visually.
The Proud Project follows on from this. It’s not age dependent because I feel many of us struggle and have struggled throughout the ages. The more we see the visuals of this the easier it is for us to accept exactly who we are or who we’re wanting to become. I talk about my body issues and how photography helped me confront parts of my body I disliked. And I do believe photography provides great therapy in that sense. But I wanted more than just personal therapy.
I wanted to create something that could actively help others outside of this project. A photographic book with different stories and visuals representing a wide section of society and the challenges we individually face at different times, whether that’s visual to the outside world or not.
We all have stories, and the more those stories are shared the more we realise that everyone has their own hidden battle, thoughts and feelings. The more we acknowledge and confront those areas we’re meant to be ashamed of, the more healing can occur. It gives us the chance to truly accept ourselves and others in all our unique attributes, rather than to focus on the differences. I wanted to gift everyone with the permission to sit in their feelings on days when they feel different or insecure and to know that they’re not alone.
I want truth, I want reality. I want raw emotion. I want to create art in its many guises with subjects that aren’t afraid to sit in those feelings and are ready to show up as themselves to the world with pride.
If that sounds like a bit of you, take a look at The Proud Project FAQs to learn more or sign up here.
Neurofibromatosis: A genetic condition which causes tumours to grow along the body’s nerves.
Scoliosis: Scar from scoliosis surgery which is where the spine twists and curves to the side.
Body rolls and dimpling: Representing more body types is important for all women.