More about 40 over 40

My name is Shadi Ameri, I am 50 and a portrait photographer and Actress. I have been a professional photographer for 14 years and this is the most powerful portrait series that I have worked on with clients to date and I can't wait to meet you!

I have interviewed and photographed hundreds of women throughout my journey as a photographer and when I asked them how aging feels like not one person said anything positive about it.

They used adjectives like : Low-Esteem, Lack of confidence, Not recognizing themselves, frustration with their body, frustration with their aging process, the negative emotions it creates everyday, creating avoidance behaviour, wanting to stay in more, drinking more, not socializing, not buying new clothes, not putting themselves on camera, affecting their business because they don’t want to go out and network, It has decimated their relationship with their spouse and their sexual connection, frumpy, old, ugly, depressed, tired, anxious, insecure, self conscious, bloated, fat, manly, mushy,discouraged, worthless, invisible, embarrassed, lost, defeated, sad, frustrated, horrible, disgusting.

This is epidemic. How much it’s impacting us. And yes it is hormones but it’s not just hormones. It’s our mindset around aging, It’s how you see yourself and who you surround yourself with. It’s what you’re listening to, what you’re giving your attention to, it’s the thought that you’re allowing to ruminate in your head, YOU’RE BRAINWASHING YOURSELF.

I know this and I can say this because I WAS THERE! And you CAN flip the switch, you CAN flip the script, YOU CAN CHANGE THE WAY YOU FEEL ABOUT AGING. I know society makes it all about weight. It’s so sad that we don’t want to put ourselves out there or exist in photographs because we’re heavier than we were when we were younger? Guys don’t do that! men don’t care. Men don’t say oh i’m not going on camera because I have wrinkles. BUT WE DO! We do that because we have given it too much power and I WANT TO CHANGE THAT AND CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE YOURSELF.

I am doing this photoshoot specifically to attack this problem. When you look good, you feel good and vice versa. It’s all connected. It’s not just hormones, it’s not just exercise. It’s your believes and how you see yourself and I want to change that for you. Let me tell you this as your bossy sister, when you say I am not having my pictures taken until I lose some weight, It’s like you say I am not going to the gym until I lose 10 pounds. It’s backwards. That is NOT GOING TO HELP YOU.

I created this for women who described themselves as I just did above using all those adjectives. Those are the women I want to work with. It is possible. You really can change the way you hold yourself . The way you commend a room when you walk in. The way you wake up each day and be excited about the next thing.

It’s so upsetting when a woman says oh yeah I probably shouldn’t spend that money on something like this. And I am thinking, On yourself? really? there is nothing more important for you then to create your own life movement. You’re on the second phase of your life. We made it half way and there is no room for error now. You have to live your best life and stop allowing your own beliefs around aging and your body and what you should look like continue to hold you back.

Now is the time to celebrate the women that you have become. Don’t you want to inspire younger women? Don’t you want them to say I want to be like you when I age! It’s time to make a change.