Read what one of our clients, Angela, had to say about her experience with the 40 over 40 Photography Campaign and why she wanted to be part of this confidence-boosting experience!
A Little About Angela’s Background And Life
Angela, born in the Midwest and raised on the East coast, now resides in the South with her Nashville-native husband and five children. A proud Howard University graduate, she transitioned from 20 years in office administration to nonprofit development.
A survivor of domestic violence, she passionately advocates to destigmatize abuse and is pursuing doula certifications to empower birthing parents in communities of color.
Angela also champions public education, serving on the leadership team of SafeRCS to protect children in Tennessee schools.
Q+ A With Angela
Why was being part of the 40 over 40 photography campaign important to you?
When COVID hit, my youngest had just turned a year old. I was looking forward to finally finding a great preschool for him but instead ended up suffering through distance learning with four kids. By the time October hit, I was crying on a daily basis over the stress of helping my daughter navigate Kindergarten online while growing the company I was working for and dealing with two other kids who needed way more attention when it came to schooling than I was prepared for (THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS!!!).
I was lucky to have the opportunity to work with a fabulous executive coach who helped me learn how to manage stress better and create systems that allowed me to truly learn more about who Angela is as a person, outside of being a mom and wife.
When things were finally opening back up again, I saw the ad for a photoshoot designed for women over 40 and immediately jumped on it. I’ve experienced a lot of trauma in my past and had finally reached a point where I could say I was truly happy with the direction the universe is taking me and I wanted to capture that moment in time with some great pictures!
What is your profession?
Advocate, Mom, Doula, Childbirth Educator, Fundraiser
What are your achievements and hobbies?
My biggest achievement was starting my own online business management company that I ran for almost two years before closing up shop during COVID. My hobbies are traveling with friends and playing The Sims 4.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Raising functional human beings that are not assholes!
What is your personal motto?
“It has to get better.”
What is something that matters to you?
Being a black woman is the biggest thing that matters to me. The pride I feel in knowing the strides women like me have made in our journeys to achieve what we thought was the American dream and how we are now working to create our version of that dream and not clinging on to old tropes that no longer serve us.
What quote defines you?
The most neglected person in America is the black woman. – Malcom X
This quote defines me because I spend every day trying to uplift the black women around me and letting them know that although the world may neglect us, we can’t neglect OURSELVES.
What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?
HAVE MORE FUN!
What would you like your legacy to be?
That I helped others learn what their unique ability is and how to thrive within it. I want to help destigmatize the idea of what domestic violence looks like and educate as many as I can about the atrocious maternal rates for women of color so we can find a way to fix the issue as a whole.
What are 3 words that define you?
Authentic, intuitive, passionate.
Have you been professionally photographed before? By whom? Describe your experience.
Unless we are counting senior pictures and family pictures at JCPenney I am going to say no to this. LOL!
When you look at your final portraits, from the 40 over 40 photography campaign, how do feel about yourself? What words would you use to describe the woman in the portrait?
I was actually surprised at how well they came out given I am NOT a model by any means and am extremely awkward when in front of any camera. I would describe the woman in the picture as someone who finally knows who she is and where she wants to go.
If you’re ready to book your photoshoot, you can start the process by sending an inquiry here.
Or you can see more of my Portrait Photography photos here!
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