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Love Bee Photography celebrates women over 40

February 1, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Age is just a number.

Love Bee Photography made this statement in photos during an exhibit in Tottenham that featured women aged 40 and over from many different backgrounds, experiences, and places in life.

The project, titled ’40 over 40,’ was two years in the making and debuted at the Wellsprings Spa at the Four Corners in Tottenham on Saturday, Jan. 20.

Photographer Bobbi Jo Stuart came up with the concept and put out a call for local women to pose for her camera. The result is a gallery full of beautiful photos depicting the women in a pose that made them feel comfortable and good about themselves.

“I wanted to photograph women over the age of 40 specifically,” explained Bobbi Jo. “It started with a few friends. They came to my studio. I saw a real transformation in them – they walked into the studio feeling nervous, and left full of confidence.”

Bobbi Jo’s skill as a photographer – and the women realizing they look good on film – produced some beautiful photographs.

“We need to celebrate getting older, instead of fearing it,” Bobbi Jo said. “I wanted to give women this experience. Many came to me through word of mouth – I was a wedding photographer for eight years.”

Several women from the local business community are featured in the exhibit. Each photo has a short bio that tells why they wanted to do a session and how they felt after.

Prior to the shoot, Bobbi Jo gave the women a questionnaire asking them why they wanted to do the shoot and if they had ever been photographed like that. That provided the information for the bio accompanying each photo.

“I asked them how they wanted to be portrayed,” Bobbi Jo said. “Some of them have a headshot, some are more intimate, and others are more glamorous. I tried to photograph them and portray them in the way they wanted to show themselves. When I started the project two years ago, I told everyone that at the end of it, we are going to do a celebration. Tonight we are celebrating them. A lot of the women know each other online; tonight is an opportunity to meet each other.”

At the exhibit, the photos were all on display, and the gala provided an opportunity for others to see the pictures and for the women to revel in their experience as models over the age of 40.

The gala featured a clothing sale, live music, and a silent auction, with proceeds raised going to My Sister’s Place, an emergency shelter in Alliston.

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