The 50 Over 50 Project: Celebrating the Confidence, Strength and Stories of Women Over 50.
If there's one thing I've learned after years behind the camera, it's this:
Women are incredibly good at putting themselves last.
I've photographed women who have built successful businesses, raised families, cared for ageing parents, overcome illness, changed careers and supported everyone around them. Yet so many tell me exactly the same thing when they first get in touch.
"I don't like having my photograph taken."
What they're often really saying is, "I don't recognise the person I see anymore."
That's why I created the 50 Over 50 Project.
Not to change women.
But to remind them of the woman who has been there all along.
This Isn't About Looking Younger!
There's a common misconception that portrait photography is about making people look ten years younger.
It isn't.
I have absolutely no interest in pretending you're someone you're not.
The laughter lines, the silver hair, the experiences you've lived through—those things aren't flaws. They're part of your story.
My job isn't to erase them.
It's to photograph them beautifully.
Because confidence doesn't come from looking younger.
It comes from seeing yourself with kinder eyes.
More Than a Photo Shoot
Before I even pick up my camera, we sit and chat.
Not about posing.
Not about lenses.
About you.
Your life.
Your journey.
What makes you laugh.
What you're proud of.
What you've overcome.
Those conversations matter because every portrait should say something about the person in it.
By the time we start photographing, you're no longer standing in front of a stranger with a camera.
You're simply spending time with someone who wants to help you see yourself differently.
The Best Part of My Job
People often assume my favourite part is creating beautiful photographs.
It isn't.
It's the moment someone sees an image of themselves and goes quiet.
Not because they're surprised they look glamorous.
Because they recognise themselves.
That moment is difficult to describe unless you've witnessed it.
The shoulders relax.
The smile becomes genuine.
Sometimes there are tears.
Not sad tears.
The kind that come when someone realises they've spent years being far harder on themselves than anyone else ever has.
Those are the moments I'll never tire of.
A Glow-Up That's About Rediscovering Yourself
People often ask whether the project includes a makeover.
I prefer to think of it differently.
It's a glow-up—but not in the way social media uses the phrase.
This experience has never been about changing who you are.
It's about reconnecting with a part of yourself that can so often be forgotten.
The confident woman.
The adventurous woman.
The joyful woman.
She's still there.
Sometimes life has simply been a little too busy to notice.
Why Professional Portraits Still Matter
We all have thousands of photographs on our phones.
Very few of them become treasured photographs.
Professional portraits are different because they're created with intention.
They're photographs your children will one day treasure.
The ones your grandchildren will look at years from now.
The ones that tell future generations exactly who you were.
That feels rather special to me.
Is It Time to Put Yourself on the List?
One thing I hear time and again is:
"I've spent my whole life looking after everyone else."
Perhaps it's time to let someone look after you for a change.
Not because you've earned it through ticking another box.
Simply because you're worthy of celebrating exactly as you are today.
If you've been waiting until you've lost weight…
Until life gets quieter…
Until you feel more confident…
You may find that confidence doesn't arrive before the experience.
Sometimes it arrives because of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
I've never had professional photographs taken. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Most women who take part have never done anything like this before. I'll guide you every step of the way.
What should I wear?
We'll plan that together before your session, so you arrive feeling comfortable, confident and completely yourself.
Do you retouch the photographs?
Yes—but with a light touch. My aim is always to create flattering, timeless portraits that still look like you.
Where do the sessions take place?
I photograph women from across Cornwall, Plymouth and Devon, either in my studio or at carefully chosen outdoor locations.
Call to Action!
If you've spent years celebrating everyone else, perhaps it's time to celebrate yourself.
The 50 Over 50 Project isn't about becoming someone different.
It's about seeing yourself with fresh eyes and reconnecting with the woman you've always been.
I'd love to help you tell your story.
