Every woman here started the same way — a photo she sent me from her phone. Sometimes no makeup. Sometimes fully done. Trying hard or not trying at all. It doesn’t matter. What she thinks is her best and what she sees through my lens are two different women.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I know what it's like to dread a camera
Thick accent. Fought with my weight my whole life. Came from Moscow in 1994 with no English. Cleaned houses, baked cakes, delivered brochures — long before I ever picked up a camera. So when you tell me you hate being photographed, I won't reassure you. I'll prove you wrong. Twenty-six years and eight international and national titles later, and still... the only thing I'm interested in is you seeing yourself properly, probably for the first time.
The truth is, I wasn’t comfortable doing this photo shoot. Not because of the photographer, but because of me.
I had to confront some of my own self-criticism. I realised that I had become ageist towards myself. The irony is that I have always celebrated strong, beautiful and vibrant women at every age, yet somewhere along the way I decided different rules applied to me. I told myself I shouldn’t be sexy, I shouldn’t be seen and that I should quietly fade into the background.
I had to put that voice to bed and allow someone else to see me.
That took a lot of backbone and many months of contemplation.
My beautiful photographer friend promised that she would capture me in a way that was authentic, tasteful and true. I trusted her, and she captured this moment perfectly.
What I love most about this photograph is the expression on my face. It’s the moment I looked at myself and thought, “You know what? I don’t look too bad.”
The funny thing is, the older I become, the less interested I am in perfection and the more interested I am in authenticity.
I wanted photographs that I could look back on one day and think, “I remember her. I remember how hard she fought to become herself.”
I’m really glad I did this.
Thank you, Kira.
Read L’s Full Story →
Show me a photo.
That's how it began for every woman above. Send me any photo from your phone (no makeup, bad light, it doesn't matter). I just want to see who I'm talking to, and start envisioning what we could create together. Then we talk.
Show me a photo →
Frances W., at 70
I hate being in the spotlight. Kira manages to find the you that is hidden inside.
I'd like to reach out to all those women who are waiting until they lose the last 5 or 10 kilos. You do not need to delay.
Gabrielle B.
