The 40 Over 40 Project
An archive of the women and stories behind a completed Blair Ann Studios portrait project.
A celebration of becoming
I created the 40 Over 40 Project to celebrate women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. From 2021 to 2024, it became a space for women to pause, step away from the roles they carry, and see themselves with fresh eyes.
Some were marking a milestone. Some were finding their way through change. Others simply decided it was time to have photographs of themselves that they loved. Every woman arrived with a different story, and that was the beauty of it.
The women of 40 Over 40
Gallery of project portraits
There is no single way to look or feel at this stage of life. These are some of the extraordinary women who made the project what it was.
More than a portrait
A portrait can hold more than the way you looked on one particular day. It can remind you of your strength, your softness, your courage, and everything you have become.
My hope was that every woman left with photographs that felt unmistakably like her, and with a little more room to appreciate the woman she saw in them.
An evening to remember
The project culminated in a champagne gallery exhibition, where the women gathered to see their portraits displayed together. It was an evening of connection, laughter, and celebration. Seeing their images side by side made the heart of the project visible: every woman has a story worth honouring.
The story continues
The 40 Over 40 Project is complete, but its message lives on. You deserve to be photographed and celebrated in the chapter you are living now.
I created the 40 Over 40 Project to celebrate women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. From 2021 to 2024, it became a space for women to pause, step away from the roles they carry, and see themselves with fresh eyes.
Some were marking a milestone. Some were finding their way through change. Others simply decided it was time to have photographs of themselves that they loved. Every woman arrived with a different story, and that was the beauty of it.
A night to celebrate every woman
After 50 women took part in the 40 Over 40 Project, I hosted a gallery exhibit at the studio with their portraits displayed on the walls. Seeing them all together was beautiful. Each photograph held a different story, and together they showed just how many ways there are to be strong, radiant, and fully yourself.
What I remember most is having the women together in one room. They could see their own portraits, celebrate one another, and share in the experience they had helped create. It was a joyful, moving evening and a fitting way to close the project.
Here are a few photographs from that night.
Your story deserves to be seen, too
The 40 Over 40 Project may be complete, but the celebration continues with 50 & Fabulous. If you’re in your 50s or beyond, this is your invitation to honour the woman you are today with portraits that feel as beautiful and powerful as this chapter of your life.
