The Day of Transformation: an auspicious day for this announcement!

In astrology November 2 has the rather wonderful title of: The Day of Transformation. I didn’t know that until today but, in preparing to write this note, I had a peek and smiled at the synchronicity of it: that a project started six years ago, abandoned by the original creator in 2020, is finally ready - in its transformed state - to be published and purchased! <insert my happy tears!>

The first proof was BEAUTIFUL - wow, to hold something IN YOUR HANDS that you’ve worked so hard toward AND to feel it truly honours your subjects is pretty damned special. I did find a couple of small things I wanted to tweak… always in pursuit of a finished book we can all be really proud of! I expect to sign off on the final proof this week (I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for its arrival!)… which means: I’m NOW ready to take pre-orders for the book starting today through Sunday, November 15. Offering the book as a pre-order will allow us to get a volume discount, bringing the purchase price down and saving you on any shipping charges. Yay! 🙌

I am beyond thrilled to announce that I am now taking pre-orders for:
53 BIRTHDAYS: A PORTRAIT COLLECTION !

Book deets: an 8x10, 62 page hardcover book showcasing each of the 53 portraits on individual pages, with upgraded white end-sheets that add - as my daughter said - a gallery vibe, high quality pearl paper that ensures beautiful colour and contrast for these incredibly special portraits, a foreward written by a subject/author/friend/changemaker, a handful of wonderful quotes from people both within the collection’s pages and their loved ones, heartfelt recognition to those we’ve lost, and a whole lotta effort, heart & soul from yours truly! I am also really, really proud to have been able to produce a beautiful book while keeping the price to ‘$100 or under’, as I’d promised was my goal…book printing is new to me and I just desperately want for it to be accessible to all, especially given the current challenges we all face.

To purchase your copy(ies) simply e-transfer $80/book to lori@lorimaloney.com (no password required) with a note that includes your first and last name and the number of copies you’re purchasing (what a fun holiday gift for loved ones! 🤗) The books will be available for pick up in NW Calgary in early December (barring any delays because of Covid and/or postal delays).

If you’d like to arrange for a different payment method OR you will be unavailable to pick your order up in Calgary, please contact me using the email listed above and I’m sure we can work it out! 🙌

The book will be available on-line after November 15; however, the price will be higher, shipping charges from my publisher will apply, and no guarantees on a pre- Dec 25 delivery…I do hope you’ll get in on the pre-order!

This book of portraits represents so much….the joy of birthdays and what they might mean to each of us, the legacy of portraiture, the choice we each have to raise our hands when given the opportunity to participate in projects that might seem ambitious, and the tenacity & perseverance we can each summon when things don’t turn out as planned. I am beyond proud to be writing this note, to know that we crossed the finish line together, and that these portraits will live on in print. 🙏🏼

Whether you are a subject in this book, or someone who participated in the bigger Birthday Book Project, or if you are simply (wonderfully!) keen to support a local artist…I am deeply appreciative for each and every purchase.

My heartfelt thanks to the 58 people, across 53 birthdays, who raised their hands and allowed me the privilege of trying to capture a little piece of what they wished to convey; I hope you and yours LOVE what we’ve created together! I must also thank my family who have supported me throughout as I first exceeded the initial project’s commitment and then chose to navigate salvaging it. ❤️

…here’s to transformation!

xo Lori

Holly ❤️

In the Fall of 2018 I met Jon, a wonderful man and photographer. We were paired, at a workshop we were at, for a rather intense exercise...and a friendship was sealed. Shortly thereafter I had the pleasure of meeting his equally awesome wife, and instantly fell in love with her resilient, warm, and grateful spirit. (worth noting here is that while Jon & Holly were here for our first dinner together we received ‘the call’ from the vet saying that our precious, and very ill pup, Dixie, could not be treated...Holly was inimitable in her generous and caring support that night, and I remain deeply appreciative.)

For Christmas that year Jon gifted Holly a gift certificate for a portrait session with me; he’s a skilled photographer but thought she might enjoy the different dynamic of being photographed by someone she isn’t married to. 😉

A few months ago Holly received a diagnosis of Breast Cancer. It was a blow to her, to Jon, and to all of us who care for them. Shortly after receiving the news, Holly reached out to me to ask if we could secretly schedule her session...she wanted to not only capture “Holly, in that moment”, before any surgery or treatment, but she was mostly and especially keen to be able to gift images to Jon, her mom, and her kids for Christmas. With conspiratorial emails and texts, and help from her daughter Kenzie and niece Mary-Kate, we managed to pull it off with Jon none the wiser – a feat considering I had coffee with him a few days prior and had to be super mindful to not blurt out anything that might give us away!

We managed to shoot, she chose her images on the sly while on vacation with Jon in Hawaii, I edited them and got them printed, Mary-Kate picked them up and delivered them to Kenzie, and – BOOM – we got’er done before I left on my vacation & she started treatment. Women are truly incredible...and Holly epitomizes this!

I love this shot...I love how carefree Holly looks, dancing and laughing 😊. I love the joy I feel when I look at her here. May we all, even amidst the toughest of times, be able to tap into our carefree spirits the way Holly does. 🙏🏼

When I say ‘every woman deserves a portrait she loves.’ I mean it wholeheartedly. I also recognize that for many women the idea of being photographed is intimidating at least and uncomfortable at best...BUT having images of your beautiful self is so empowering – that chance to see ‘you’ as your loved ones do – and it is also an enormous gift to you and to all who love you. Providing this service to all women, and with very special reverence toward women facing or who have faced serious illness, is my heart’s work and my great honour. While I so wish I could go back in time to have professional portraits of my mom, portraits that she loved; it brings me comfort knowing that I can play a role in other women having images of themselves that show their badass, generous, kind, strong, resilient, graceful, and vulnerable natures…that show their authenticity.

Thank you, Holly, for your trust, for your inspiring nature, and for allowing me to share your beauty & grace with the world...all of it takes courage. I know I can speak for the collective when I say: we are sending you love & light as you embark on this new journey...you’ve got this! Thank you, Jon, for trusting me to create portraits of this woman you love…we couldn’t have known how special this gift would come to be, and I’m so grateful I was in a position to provide something special to Holly, to you, and to your family.

xo Lori

#portrait #warrior # cancer #breastcancer #resilience #courage #gratitude #woman #strength # beauty #grace #bnw #instagood #compassion #purpose #heartswork #fuckcancer #dancing #flowposing #canon #alienskin #yyc #studio #tombaker #wellspring #supportingwomen #lorimaloneyphotography #everywomandeservesaportraitsheloves