For Our Daughters
Travel the country (some day the world) to take portraits of everyday women and show how beautiful they are. I want my daughter to see how many kinds of beauty there are. I want your daughters to see that too.
I began taking a self-portrait every day in August of 2006 as a challenge to see if I could make it one year. I discovered so much about myself and learned to see beauty in myself I had never acknowledged before, that I continued taking then for a second year.
The confidence I gained in myself as a woman and as a photographer carried into my daily life. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to take portraits of some other women and show them their own beauty, too.
Having a daughter who is now 13 and who, while lovely, questions her thighs, her teeth, her knees, is heartbreaking. I see and read words from women and girls making self-deprecating comments all the time and it kills me. I do it myself sometimes. We need to stop.
Because despite it all—despite loving my daughter and not wanting her to ever hate her body like she is learning to do, I am not exactly living a good example. I’m so much better than I’ve ever been as far as accepting myself and loving myself, body and soul, but the doubts and self-hating voices still arise. I still have days when I don’t want to see myself in the mirror.
And none of us should ever feel that way.
106 Comments
Sarah's work is beautiful and strongly felt. I strongly second what nancenet70 has to say.
Sarah is amazing and deserves this dream so much!!..I could not even list all the ways I have known her to be selfless over the years we have been friends---
Sarah is the kind of person who empathizes with almost everyone she meets. She can see inside and find the goodness in everyone and that comes through in her photography.
Sounds like a very good idea.
Sarah is a wonderful photographer whose dream should be realized. The benefit to women and girls everywhere would be priceless.
Sarah has an incredible eye. Get to know her work now, because I think she's going places!
As a woman, the fact that this proposal even exists makes me happy. For Sarah to be able to actually do this assignment would make me even happier. Women need this.
The world needs more photographers and story tellers like you. I hoe you win - this would be an incredibly important project!
This is awesome, Sarah. Good luck!
How do I vote yes yes yes? Your vision is wonderful and much needed.
What a beautiful idea. Where can we see your photographs?
Sarah - you rock
great idea sarah! good luck
Thank you so much for the votes, encouragement, and enthusiasm!
You can see my photos at http://flickr.com/photos/sadandbeautiful
I wish you all the best Sarah! This would be an amazing project - one that is greatly needed by so many women.
I'd love to see you win this. How amazing would that be. Hope you are getting all your flickr fans to vote!!!
All the best Sarah! You would do such a great job with this project..
Best of luck, Sarah! You really deserve to win this, and then to go forth and DO IT!
This is a wonderful idea for a project.
You are an Awesome ,Strong ,Beautiful Woman and i think you are Wonderful !!!
Excellent idea, Sarah! We need more positive media images of female beauty.
Good luck, Sarah...you certainly have mt vote!! This is a great idea for a positive image.
Sarah is an artist with a proven record of dedication - taking pictures with a fine sense of aesthetic, intelligence, and a big heart. I can think of no one better to take on this subject matter and as well it would be an important political/social subject to tackle. Choose Sarah! XOXOX
I like your idea!
Will you vote for me? Let's do this and see how it turns out. Let's help each other!
Good luck!
Thank you for voting Sarah. I love your idea as well. I truly believe whoever wins will be doing a wonderful thing with their dream. You too have my vote.
Sarah
I also wanted to let you know I mentioned your wonderful dream on facebook, my blog, and flickr. I would love to be able to help you get into the top 20.
Thanks
Kate
With your eye this would be an amazing project. Good luck!
Excellent idea: I have a scrumptious daughter; a lovely sister who has 4 gorgeous daughters; and a beautiful mother. Would that we all had known from the beginning that we had our own beauty, and that to be focused so intently on our outside shells was a bit self-destructive. Best wishes, Sandy
I believe this project is of primary importance, for our daughters, mothers, granddaughters, grandsons. Creativity of this magnitude should be rewarded.
I wish I had something like this to see when I was a young teenage girl!
I love the idea behind this project - every woman should feel beautiful in her own skin. What Sarah has accomplished on a personal level is amazing and her wish to share that with others to be applauded. Good luck Sarah!
What a great idea! .. please visit my dream and leave a vote or comment if you are inspired to. Thanks and Good Luck!!
cool idea, good luck to you.
sounds like a wonderful idea. I hope your dream comes true!
Good luck Sarah!
I love this idea! Good luck Sarah!
What a marvelous idea!
Good luck!
As someone who also did a SPAD project (tippiepics.com/selfportrait) for a year, I think this is a wonderful idea! Good luck with the voting - I hope you can get this done... And I'm off to check out your photos...
Unite against the “network” that is scheming votes. Support ideas that are “lost” due to unworthy ideas using low tactics. “Insulin” is not the best idea. Something is wrong here and many fantastic ideas are getting lost due to the “network.” If you like my idea on “Vanishing Cultures,” vote for it.
Sounds great! I voted-please read my dream and vote-I think you will love it!
She's great!
I love this idea! check out mine and Pic it if youd like! Congo here I come...
Sarah was BORN to do this project! And what a good proposal it is. Girls today need this. As do grown women. Look at the media today. Over 50 percent of teens feel empathy for Chris Brown and blame Rihanna on some level. The perception of women today is pretty terrible. Sarah's project can help.
Lovely idea!!. I just pic'd you. I hope you'll be kind enought to come check me out, and lend your vote! Thanks!
What an awesome idea! You have my vote!
you need to do this.
WE need you to do this!
This isn't just a dream to satisfy one person, its a dream that can make a difference to many people. A selfless idea from a selfless woman.
Good Luck Sarah!
What a great idea, good luck!
Beautifully stated, Sarah!
I'm so happy to send my vote towards Sarah's Dream Assignment. She's a fantastic lady, thoughtful and artistic photographer, and loving mom.
Good luck Sarah!
I could wax ecstatic about Sarah's work, and often do. For now I'll just say - Go Sarah!
keeping my fingers crossed for ya!!!!
I love your idea. You could make a book. I would definitely love something like this for my daughter.
Pic'd. Good luck. It would be great if you made it.
Sarah is a fantastically talented photographer. The photos she has taken of our daughter are nothing short of spectacular.
And she's a really nice person too ;-)
I love your idea. I hope you win !
Good luck Sarah !
Your project is wonderful and i hope your dream will come true.
Sarah is amazing, and totally inspiring. If anybody hasn't looked at her photography you're seriously missing out!
Fabulous, worthwhile concept!! Best of luck :)
I'm sure she will win. She is an amazing photographer and her project is excellent !
Much love, Sarah!
Go, Sarah !
GO Sarah!
I have two daughters.
Danmcc
Brilliant!!
You have so much to offer, and I'm so happy to see that you have this vision! Good luck--I wish you all the best!
good luck with your dream, it is a nice concept and something that needs to be done!
Finally registered so I could vote for this. Good luck- I hope you win. What an awesome dream.
great idea!
good luck, sarah! I hope your dream comes true. i voted for you!
i'm one of your biggest fans sarah! i think your idea is just great! i think you are great! i've much enjoyed being taken along on your journey of self portraits... you are inspiring! all my best!!!
goooooo sarah! i'm behind you all the way! :)
this is a wonderful idea. We are all unique and beautiful in our own rights.
I stand and applaud this heartfelt dream, Sarah. I didn't set a very good example for my children because of the way I felt about my own body. I hope your dreams and those of other women manifest a positive picture of what beautiful women we all truly are.
Good luck, Sarah! This is a wonderful idea.
I hope you win!
A far-reaching choice of assignment with many beautiful possibilities for our sons and daughters both. I hope you have the chance to do it - best of luck, Sarah.
Great idea! Here's hoping!
A powerful message for all women!
great idea! good luck to you!
very best of luck to you!
Best of luck!
you dont have to sell me,youre work speaks for it self i hope you win this-good luck!
good luck from me!
good luck from me too
go sarah
Good luck.
Hello, Sarah.
Amazing work. I wish you could take a picture of me so maybe I could appreciate myself!
Good luck Sarah !
Your project is great and i hope you'll win!
You go Girl!
Best of Luck for a Very Neccessary Concept.
Cousins Marion & Joe
What a beautiful idea! You've got my vote :)
All the best Sarah hope you get it!!
Pat Lamb x
Cecily fan here- sending you best of luck vibes!
Here from cecily's blog, love your project.
I did it :-)
Good luck Sarah. I hope you get your dream.
I would love my daughters to learn to love themselves from the inside out. I would like to be able to do that, too.
Good luck, Sarah!
I am here via Cecily! I loved your project and hope you win. Go Sarah!!!
This would be so terrific and your work would help all of us 'girls' in the world. Spread the word...
Good luck, Sarah!!
I VOTED!!! I now deserve to be best online friend of the year!!!!!!!!!!!
All the best, Sarah!!!
best of luck, Sarah!!!!!
Xelia pointed me your way, and reading your thoughts, agreed with the idea. Female beauty is far broader and grander than any Mode or Elle, and you have a keen eye to capture it. I hope for you, and will love to see the result.
What a terrific idea. Good luck Sarah
For anyone unfamiliar with Sarah's work, please take a look at her amazing photography....I'd love to see Sarah win this as I think more than her daughter will benefit from the pictures that would come from Sarah travelling across the country!