This one goes out to all the ladies - over 50!

Last week I had a very interesting conversation with a client about the lack of older women in photographs. My client made the point that it is hard to look at a photo of yourself as an older woman and be ok with it because everything you have to compare it to is so drastically different - so much younger. It is discouraging. It is hard to accept that we just don't look the same as we used to and the media isn't helping.

Any woman who has rounded the corner on her 30s knows what I am talking about. Things just change. It is hard to look in the mirror and suddenly see little lines, wrinkles, spots and gray hairs where, perhaps just yesterday, there were none. We lose our our baby faces and smooth skin. Evidence of days spent in the sun and years of laughing and smiling appears and we suddenly realize our dresses are too short and our pants are too tight.

I see those self-acceptance articles on Facebook; empowering women, telling us that we have earned our wrinkles and gray hairs and it is ok to accept that we are aging. These articles are wonderful, true and inspiring - until we open a magazine and see the beautiful 20-30 somethings frolicking in bathing suits or lounging around, perfectly lit and groomed, not a hair out of place.

Where are the older women? I'm not talking about the "how to look fabulous at 40" women, or photos of Hilary and her "hair faux pas of the week". Where are the beautiful older women living normal lives? We all crave someone to look up to. We want to know that we are doing things right. We need to see our demographic in the headlines so that we feel validated. If we don't see it, it can be hard to feel accepted (and acceptable). 

In honor or my client and women everywhere, I have decided to post a few images of beautiful, extraordinary women I have met over the past year. They aren't in their 20s or 30s but they are real, amazing women who have led wonderful, interesting, complex lives. These are the women we need to look up to and, in all honesty, we should all be hoping that someday we look this good.