"She remembered who she was and the game changed."
A Reminder
For Alison's birthday, her sister gifted her a reminder... a reminder of how amazing, how beautiful and overall what an incredible person she is.
Email from Ali's sister:
Ali, you doll, you, I’d like to treat you to this 50 Over 50 for your birthday. I’m copying Irene who is a lovely person and talented photographer. She is doing new head shots for me in the next few months. Fill out Irene’s form and you will have fun and get some great shots!
Off-Balance
As maybe many of us can relate, Alison felt as though she had been beaten down and a little off balance by the way things are going in the world. As a mom of 3, she worries about her children and whether the world is going to be ok now that everything is unprecedented.
Through all the emotional wreckage that these past few years have caused, Alison is fighting to keep her inner light shinning bright! She is here to remind us all of our indomitable spirit and that even though we will always have storms, we will also always have rainbows.
Walking on Sunshine
Her spark and spirit shine through in her 50 Over 50 Fabulous Photography Session. We incorporated light and sunshine as much as possible so she would have a reminder of her everlasting spark and resilient spirit.
We chose the National Park Seminary, located in Silver Spring, MD as her perfect beauty photography location, not only because she helped design one of the buildings, but also because of its uniqueness. Look how stunning she looks in this creative setting!
50 Over 50 and Fabulous Project Beauty Photography Interview
Irene (Beauty Photographer):
Let's start with your name and age, and then give me a short history of you and your life, from the beginning until now.
Alison:
My name is Alison Carr, I'm 56 years old. I grew up in Long Island New York, I'm the youngest of 6 kids (4 sisters and 1 brother). I've always viewed being part of a big family as a great blessing. Growing up I was a bit of a tom-boy: active, creative, loved the beach, loved to be outside. I went to college in Buffalo NY where, at age 22, I met Brian, the man who would become my husband.
I've always wanted to have a large family, but I waited as long as I dared, because we were having so much fun being young professionals in Chicago. When our 2 boys were age 3 and 1, we moved from our beloved city of Chicago to be closer to family on the East Coast.
My favorite job of all time was working in a Museum as an 'Art Handler/ Art Preparator'. I was 47 and working with people who were mostly around 27, but I hung in there. I loved working with my hands and my heart at the same time- we would wait for the trucks and use physical strength to unload precious art, then we would very very carefully hang the art for exhibition in the following weeks.
These days, I'm not at my best, as I worry too much about Covid-19 and about my kids, and whether everything is going to be OK in the world or not. I'm a little off-balance right now, I have lost some of my spark. But I'm still trying, and I still try to make time for fun.
Irene (Silver Spring Photographer):
How did you mark turning 50 and how did that feel?
Alison:
We splurged on a long weekend in Martha's Vineyard, with our 3 kids. Summer and Sunshine almost always equal Happiness for me. My birthday is in August. We chartered a sailboat and ate dinner in a beautiful outdoor setting. It was a trip down memory lane for me, as I recalled some of the happiest times of my childhood, when we'd sail there with my siblings and parents.
Irene (Beauty Photographer):
How has your relationship to time changed as you have gotten older?
Alison:
For me, time went fastest when our kids were babies. These days as I watch my kids turn into adults (Age 22, 20, 16) time is probably feeling even faster than that. But I've been blessed with good energy. Sometimes I feel I have more energy than everyone my age. I thought this would diminish as I hit my 50's but so far it has not changed very much. I feel pretty lucky.
Irene (Silver Spring Photographer):
How have your ambitions changed since you turned 50?
Alison:
I'm just trying to keep up with everything I already have on my plate. Sometimes I feel I'm just 'putting out fires', not much pause to have a long-range view to set long term ambitions.
Irene (Beauty Photographer):
When have you felt most attractive?
Alison:
I feel most attractive when I look back on how much better I USED TO look. I see photos and think 'damn, I didn't even know I looked that good, and didn't appreciate it back then!' But then I think of now, and say to myself, "you're younger than you'll ever be'. So I'm glad that with this project, we're taking the time to document Me now. :-)
Irene (Silver Spring Photographer):
Have your perceptions of what being 'attractive' means changed over time? What do you define as attractive now?
Alison:
I'm not all that concerned with being attractive. I feel I'm average-pretty, and I do not struggle with weight, so that's good enough for me. I feel better and happier when I exercise more. In months when I've been working out a lot, and sometimes use that available 30 minutes to run instead of fuss over my looks or blow-dry my hair at the end, I feel that's a pretty great trade-off.
Irene (Beauty Photographer):
What excites you most about the 50 Over 50 & Fabulous project?
Alison:
I'm younger now than I'll ever be. I'm glad we're taking the time to document Me now. :-) Also, I like the format, I like the sense of community, and I appreciate the way you've structured this to end in a small exhibit with other women.
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