Still Worth Capturing: Portrait Photographer Christine Harris on Women, Aging, and the Art of Being Seen
What happens when a photographer turns her lens toward the very women our culture tends to overlook? For Christine Harris, a portrait photographer, artist, and founder of the 50 Women Project, the answer is something close to transformation. Based in Los Angeles, Christine has built a body of work centered on women in midlife and beyond, driven by a simple belief: that women over 50 are not just still worth photographing, they are among the most compelling subjects she could possibly shoot. In this conversation, Christine shares how she found her way to portrait photography, what she sees through the lens that so many of us miss when we look in the mirror, and why she’s on a mission to give women of a certain age back something they never should have lost, the joy of being not just heard but seen. Let’s dive in to Still Worth Capturing: Portrait Photographer Christine Harris on Women, Aging, and the Art of Being Seen.
Christine, let’s start at the beginning. How did you find your way into photography, and what made portrait work feel like home for you?
Like many photographers, I always took pictures. When my daughters were growing up, I tried to take our own portraits with a point-and-shoot. Some turned out, many didn’t. I wanted those beautiful editorial black-and-white images with lots of white space. I was always trying to create that look with the tools I had available. Photobooks were easier because there were more creative options. When I started traveling to France and Italy, street photography became a new passion. Using just my iPhone, I captured real-life moments of French and Italian life. I always intended to learn how to use a camera, but it eluded me. Once my daughters were grown and off to college, I made a big move from Los Angeles to upstate New York. It was the beginning of a new season, and I thought I would go back to school for photography and design. Oddly, I never considered portrait photography as something I would enjoy, or even as a career. Because of my love for taking photos, I was asked to participate in a community arts project where I would be taking 100 portraits of the community. It was simple, and I was still in auto mode, but I watched a few tutorials on how to direct subjects and make them feel comfortable. After the first portrait, I knew THIS was what I wanted to do. I bought a professional camera and enrolled in portrait photography courses that night. That was August of 2020, and I haven’t stopped since.
What made a photographer decide that women over fifty were the most compelling subjects she could possibly be shooting?
I was over 50, and so were many of my friends. I know how tough it is to see yourself in photos, and I wanted to show women over 50 that they are still seen and vital. Women in midlife and beyond only become more interesting and powerful. They bring all of life and their stories with them.
Tell us about the 50 Women project — what is it, what inspired it, and what do you hope women walk away feeling after being part of it?
Photographers use campaigns to build momentum and a clientele. I chose 50 Women because it was my age and the age of many of my friends. It was a natural fit. What surprised me was how it evolved. In the comforting space of my studio, they opened up. We talked, we laughed, and we cried. They felt safe to be in front of my camera, and we created beautiful photos that they felt captured their true selves. This might seem minor, but when I’m on social media and see profile pictures I’ve taken, it makes me so happy. People only use photos they feel truly represent them. I think women walk away from our sessions feeling empowered and seen. I always want to go deeper in conversation, but I have to keep my photographer hat on too.
So many women I know, myself included believe it or not, have a complicated relationship with being photographed at this age. We step out of family photos, we untag ourselves online. What do you see when you look through your lens at a woman over fifty that the rest of us are missing?
It’s true! I get it and I’ve felt the same way. In learning photography, I’ve done countless self-portrait sessions. I think that’s what prepared me for this project. As we age, we aren’t used to seeing ourselves older. Even looking in the mirror doesn’t reflect what a photo reveals. There’s the shock of that. Posing is also an art. It’s no surprise that a family photo is not going to reveal the true person. I found that I hated my photos when I posed as I was taught to do. But when I added movement and emotion, those were the beautiful photos. Still, I ask my clients to be gentle when they receive their gallery. I explain that they might need to revisit it after a few days, promising they will see themselves differently. I experienced it myself.
Take me into that first session with a new subject. What’s the energy like when a woman walks in? And how does it change by the time she walks out?
Before she ever walks in, I make sure the studio energy is calm and welcoming. After setting up, I light a candle, pour a cup of coffee, and mentally settle into the work. I usually have music playing that I think will suit her. Everyone walks in nervous, but within minutes they exhale and we start talking. It doesn’t take long for them to relax once I’ve walked them through what to expect and assured them that I will direct them every step of the way. They leave excited and often tell me how much fun they had.
Is there a particular photograph, or a particular woman, one that reminded you exactly why you do this that stopped you in your tracks? If so, why??
That I couldn’t say. I love every session and find something special with each woman. But there was one, and it wasn’t from this project or of a woman. It was a dear friend who happened to be the mayor of my little upstate village. He needed a last-minute headshot for an article, so we did a quick, spontaneous shoot. He had such a great sense of humor on any given day, so naturally we laughed through the whole session. We got the photo he needed, and I don’t think he ever looked at the gallery again or shared it. It wasn’t long after that he passed away, and his family asked me to put together a selection of any images I had. Looking at them again with fresh eyes, I think they are my most treasured photos. The life and light revealed in his eyes is everything. I thought: if I never take another photo again, I did my job with his.
I think we’ve all been conditioned to believe that photography is something that happens to us less as we get older; we quietly age out of being worth capturing. Where do you think that comes from, and what does your work say back to it?
The answer is obvious and doesn’t need explaining. Let’s change that! I think consumerism is finally catching up to the fact that women in midlife are a powerful force. We are the ones buying. And we’re also done trying to fit into the box of beautifully young. We are wiser and more beautiful for it. We carry a beauty that only comes with age. It’s the confidence of knowing exactly who we are and who we’ve become. That is magnetic.
What do women tell you after they see their images for the first time? I’m curious about that moment. Can you share?
Thankfully, they tell me I’ve captured exactly who they are. Their true selves.
For a lot of women our age, the idea of a photoshoot feels like it’s for someone younger, thinner, or braver than us. What would you say to the woman who desperately wants this experience but keeps talking herself out of it?
Trust me and let me give you photos you will love. As you are, right now. It will be fun because it won’t feel like a photoshoot. It will feel like a conversation, and I’ll be capturing you in the middle of it.
Has doing this work changed the way you see yourself? Has photographing all these women shifted something in how you navigate your own life at this age? It must be so powerful.
I’m thankful. I’m not as critical and surrender to the changes. I’m lucky to be here and healthy. The alternative is much worse.
And finally, if a woman reading this wanted to take one small step today toward seeing herself the way you see your subjects, what would you suggest she do?
Smile! Seriously, is there anything more beautiful?
Let’s talk about your own self-care. What does that look like for you on a daily or weekly basis — what are the rituals, the non-negotiables?
I keep it pretty simple. The non-negotiables are always washing my makeup off at night and using moisturizer morning and night. I’m one of those people who always wears makeup. Even during lockdown, alone at home, I felt better when I got dressed and did my hair and makeup. Having Italian genes, I’m not so good with the sunscreen, and I do love a bit of a tan. I’m getting better about it, though.
And finally, Christine — what’s next for you? Any projects, personal or professional, that you’re excited about and want to share?
I’m also continuing to grow as an artist and am currently working on a new collection of digital composite photography. The work composites flowers into images that look like abstract paintings, with colors that are big and bold. The collection is called Unbound, and it reflects this new season I’m stepping into. After seven years in upstate New York, I sold my home, my studio, and all my furniture to return to Los Angeles and live a simpler life, one with more time for creating, connecting with family, and feeding my love for Italy. The collection will be exhibited in late October.
I hope you enjoyed Still Worth Capturing: Portrait Photographer Christine Harris on Women, Aging, and the Art of Being Seen. Christineis exactly the kind of artist I love to introduce to this community, someone who has turned her own experience of aging into fuel for meaningful, even life-changing work. Whether you’re someone who quietly steps out of family photos or someone who’s simply never felt fully seen in front of a camera, her message is worth taking in: “you are worth capturing, exactly as you are, right now’“. You can find Christine’s stunning work and learn more about the 50 Women Project at bychristineharris.com, and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. And if her words have you thinking, even a little about what it might feel like to finally have a photograph that looks like you, perhaps that’s the only sign you need. Give Christine a call. You won’t regret it. We tried to get together before this interview but our schedules didn’t allow it. We will meet in L.A sometime this summer!
Get Christines Look
You might enjoy my friend Jeanne’s post On Being Seen on her wonderful blog Tahilla Farm. Jeanne is also featured in Christine’s 50 Women Project here.
You can catch up on more of our Self -Care series that you may have missed here.
