21 Mar Why I love shooting mature beauty
There is something very powerful about photographing mature women. They exude intelligence, self awareness and strength. I absolutely love our conversations throughout the process of our photoshoots. The conversations are very enlightening, usually some witty jokes and many laughs. There is a myth that beauty ends in your twenties but I don’t believe that. Through my eyes, I see women get more beautiful with age. I truly mean this.
Media and society are slowly coming around and showing more mature women and men in their commercials and ads. They are realizing that there is a demand for mature models. Market experts understand this need to reflect their target demographic – the need to showcase people of all ages, sizes, races, and heights. As a result we are seeing more mature individuals which makes me so happy.
It saddens me when I photograph older people and they ask me to remove wrinkles and to make them look younger. I don’t past judgment but I really dislike removing wrinkles and signs that they are older. When removed they look airbrushed and not as beautiful as they truly are in their natural state. There will always be a few that want to hold onto their youth. When you return the photos they feel happy with the airbrushed look but others looking at the photos see there is a disconnect. My favourite women to photograph are the women who are comfortable with their looks like the women I am showing in this blog.
I belief that beauty ends in your twenties is so flawed. Women in their 20s have a lot that they have to deal with. They are getting their post secondary education, stepping into the work force, finding a partner and some having children. There is so much pressure to look a certain way to get a mate or to be accepted by their peers. I don’t miss my twenties at all. Mainly because of the pressure from school. People in their 20s have not gained the their full maturity and self awareness yet. I mean no disrespect here. I am in my mid thirties and I, myself, have so much growing to do. I was reflecting back with my freind, Florence, today and I was telling her a story of when I was in school. I used to get called upon to read in front of my accounting class daily. With dyslexia, this was challenging and embarrassing for me so as a result I dropped the class. My teacher pulled me aside and said how sad he was that I was leaving because I was doing so well in his class. If I had the self awareness that I do now and the confidence I would have talked to the teacher letting him know how I felt. I would explain that I have dyslexia and how I feel uncomfortable reading in front of the class. I would ask him to call on me less and I would stay and complete the course. That would have be an valuable skill to learn with a photography business. Things we learn as we grow older. I am sure there will be more lessons to come and I’ll look back in my 40s at my mistakes in my 30s.
Not everyone is blessed to reach the 60s – 90s. It’s not promised to us. Life throws many curveballs at us and we have to deal with it head on and grow. Each wrinkles, scare, white hair is earned. I am not against dying your hair. I absolutely love when Ruth, my boyfriend’s mom, dyes her white hair fun colours. She has had pink and purple splashes in it and it shows her fun personality. There nothing wrong with dying your hair any colour you want. No one should be able to tell you what to do with your own body.
Let’s be honest we all have our insecurities, from teenage pimples to older women wanting to hide their necks. Nonetheless, there’s so much more to use then our flaws and their is so much beauty in all stages of life.
Thank you for your time to read through my thoughts. Love to hear your opinions.
No Comments