Conquering Self Love and Boudoir with Andrea Barkley
The 50 Over 50 Project
When I started my photography business, I would get phone calls where women would say to me, “I love your work, I want you to photograph my daughter!” Which is great to hear, of course. But the question I would always ask myself was... “Why not you?” And as I started getting answers to that question, none of them really sat well with me. That's where The 50 Over 50 Project was born - and it is working!
Today I am so excited to introduce you to Andrea Barkley who is a fascinating and talented woman who participated in our project. One of the first things she shared with me was that she wanted her portraits to convey that women over 50 don’t have to act or look any certain way. Our age group tends to be misrepresented in media and culture, and Andrea wanted to question those stereotypes through her photoshoot. And, boy did she!
Andrea’s Boudoir Photoshoot & Headshots
One thing that I LOVE about these photoshoots is how they reveal so many sides to a person! Before Andrea even came into the studio, we talked about how she wanted to be conveyed in her images. And what we came up with was a beautiful mix of strength and femininity. As a woman, sometimes it can be difficult to reconcile being both of those things at the same time! What you might not see when simply looking at her is that Andrea is actually a U.S. Air Force veteran and firearms instructor. So for her photoshoot, we also decided to incorporate some headshots on multiple backdrops that she can utilize for her professional life.
"I absolutely love being a woman. But it took me many years to love myself.
Then, somewhere along the way, I realized this is it! It was a decision to love myself and everything I have to offer. When I did that I gained incredible confidence… and peace."
- Andrea Barkley
Biggest Life Lessons
Before we wrapped up her participation in the 50 Over 50 Project, we asked Andrea to share with us any lessons she has gained through her life experience. Here’s what she had to say!
01. Love yourself - flaws and all! Look in the mirror and own what you see. You can never expect anyone else to love you, if you can't love yourself.
02. Probably the MOST valuable lesson in life I learned is that we choose how we react to ANY situation. We choose to get mad at that crazy driver, or we choose to get annoyed with our significant other, or we choose to be patient with our children, or our elderly parent, or we choose to get snippy with the inept clerk behind the counter. We choose to be happy and not jealous when our best friend gets married first. We choose every emotion… and if you feel it is something you are not in control of, then that is something you can work on.
03. Teach your significant other how to love you. And learn how to love them. Whatever it is you need, tell them.
I couldn’t agree more! Thank you, Andrea! It was an honor to have you in the studio, and we appreciate all the personal stories and lessons you shared with us during this process.
Until next time,
Val
ABOUT AVP
Anne Valerie Portrait is committed to providing an incredible, one-of-a-kind experience to every one of our clients. The women you see in our portfolio are not models, they are everyday women just like you and me! We’d love to chat with you about our process and see if it’s a good fit for you. Simply click the button below to fill out our form and schedule a call today!
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BASED IN LEXINGTON VIRGINIA
Valerie Johnson is a master portrait photographer based in Lexington, Virginia who offers expert guidance and resources to each of her clients, ensuring a one-of-a-kind experience. If you’d like to know more about doing a portrait session, boudoir photos, or professional headshots with Anne Valerie Portrait, click the button below to fill out our form and schedule a call today!Top Posts