Happy International Women’s Day!

It’s been a while since I last wrote and today is the perfect day to break the drought…

A day reserved for celebrating WOMEN… in all our beautiful colours and traits and forms and dreams and vocations and pursuits and skills and orientations and abilities and voices and and and!! 🙌🌈🦋 YASSSSS!

Since the day I chose to specialize in women’s portraiture I’ve maintained that my goal is to:
”provide empowering portraiture to women.” Full Stop.
…no matter if my clients were wearing jeans, ballgowns, or nothin’ at all; very young or very wise; outdoorsy or glam; any body shape, sexual orientation, or ethnicity; and anything/everything in between. That said, and I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, I do wonder if I’ve conveyed my intention clearly enough? While I’m wholeheartedly clear in my own head & heart with my intention, is that coming through in my words and work? The short answer is: in words & spirit - I hope - yes, and: in work - I think - maybe not. 😕

I do believe that those who read this blog, follow my social feeds, or who know me, would all agree that I am in loving & perpetual pursuit of celebrating all women; however, the fact is that my portfolio just doesn’t have the diversity I wish it did. I genuinely believe in each of us seeing ourselves represented on line, on tv, in ads, in movies, at the head of the boardroom table, in government, on the the moon…literally, everywhere. This is why I find 2021’s theme for #IWD2021: #ChooseToChallenge (to show commitment to challenging inequality) so inspiring…a gracious push for me to speak more intentionally out loud to those who are not represented, or equally represented, in my portfolio.

The truth is that I’ve never targeted my marketing or initiatives to any specific population aside from: women, or, one could argue: women who are facing or have faced serious illness. For me it has never been about her dress size, hair length, eye colour, age, wardrobe, education level, life desires, nor skin colour; rather it has always been about doing my best to honour the beautiful woman or girl standing in front of me…celebrating who SHE is, without mind to what society is relentlessly & selfishly asking her to be. Beyond that my business has been organic…word of mouth, google searches, 6 degrees, informal networking (very informal as I’m terrible at and truly dislike forced convos 😜), referrals, etc., all of which I’m enormously grateful for, but it’s time for me to consciously try to grow that ripple effect.

In January 2019 I began offering free portrait sessions to women nominated by their friends or family whom they felt could use a ‘boost’…regardless of ‘why’ - maybe heartache, maybe illness, maybe job loss, maybe xyz…and it’s been amazing. ❤️ Today, in honour not only of IWD but also of what’s been tugging at my heart these past few years, I’d like to offer something similar but with a little more ‘intentional’ guidance:

Do you know a woman or girl who may be or is unrepresented in my portfolio and who would enjoy a free studio or location session with me?

Please nominate them by emailing me at Lori@LoriMaloney.com and letting me know why you would love for them to have this experience and also how you feel they aren’t YET represented in my work.

I, with the help of some trusted friends & colleagues, will be picking a minimum of two nominated girl(s)/womxn to receive a studio portrait session, in their chosen genres, that will include a beautifully finished 8x10/12 print of their choosing.*

because…

EVERY GIRL & WOMXN DESERVES A PORTRAIT SHE LOVES.

Gloria, Paulina, Deep & Aira. Calgary, AB. 2012.

Annie Leibovitz is quoted as saying,

“When I say ‘I want to photograph someone’, what it really means is that ‘I'd like to know them’.”

Me tooooo, Annie! 🎯

Wishing each person reading this good health, happiness, the joy in purpose, and the humility to acknowledge if you, like me, can do more to challenge the inequities still inherent in our society today.

xo Lori

*Subjects (or their parents if not 18 years old) will be required to sign both an Activity Waiver and Model Release prior to the session. All subjects permit to their images & stories being used by Lori Maloney Inc. Sessions must take place prior to end of August 2021. All Covid health protocol will be followed ensuring the subjects’ a safe, fun, and empowering experience. One session with one retouched print valued at C$450.