The news yesterday about Kobe Bryant and his daughter’s death was heartbreaking. I watched a bit of the Grammys last night with my daughter and it was powerful to see how they were honoured and mourned.
I loved that Alicia Keys was hosting the show and setting the tone of authenticity, kindness, and connectedness. I could write a whole blog about her but will save it for another time. She talked about the healing power of music.
From a very young age I have been a passionate music lover. At age 7, I was obsessed with the song Misunderstanding by Genesis. I listened to my 45 record over and over and realized for the first time that songs are stories. The melody, rhythm and mood of a song can make me cry without any words attached. But when you add the right words to the music, you get deep soul moving art. This is the power of music. And, when you are moved you connect more deeply to who you are and feel more connected to the world around you. You feel present and alive.
In my Presence Portrait sessions I ask people to share with me 5 songs that move them deeply. I use that music in the sessions to help people connect to their emotions and to their body. Music has the power to open hearts and free souls and unlock emotion like no other art form.
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I see music in the people I photograph. I often think about my photographs as songs – combining the melody, rhythm, mood and story to make an image that moves people.
My daughter is a HUGE Billie Eilish fan. This morning she was thrilled to hear that Billie won 5 Grammys last night (we didn’t stay up late enough to watch the whole show). There are so many things I love about this. Billie is 18 years old. She was raised by parents who were artists and gave her a life full of art and permission to create. This is what can happen when we encourage our children to express themselves and explore creatively. She is unapologetically herself. She has stayed true to herself by having strong loving connections to her family. Billie made her album in her brother’s bedroom, showing us that we don’t need permission from any stakeholders or gatekeepers to make good art. Simple. Honest. Beautiful.
Billie Eilish is inspiring a whole generation of girls to be bold and real and creative and to still be connected to their families.
The images in this post are like music to me. Presence Portraits are about photographing the music in you. I’ll soon be announcing a transformative package in a collaboration with Sara Smeaton and Jennifer Ziliotto. So excited!
