March 8, 1908 Women workers in the needle trades marched through New York City’s lower East side to protest child labor & sweatshop conditions and demand women’s suffrage (women’s right to VOTE).
August 18, 1920 The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote
Only 50 years ago, in 1974, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act passed. Women in the United States were granted the right to open a bank account of their own and to own a credit card in their name. In the 1960’s many banks still refused without their husband’s signature.
It was only in 1984 that the last state granted women the right to vote…that state was Mississippi.
So, when we’re all about ‘International Women’s Day’ in 2024, let’s remember that it was not very long ago in the United States, that women couldn’t have a bank account or a credit card in their own name.
Let’s continue to support each other. To SEE each other. Celebrate each other & continue to move forward.
WendyAndrewsPhotography Celebrating Women ALL Women
Reach out and we’ll schedule a complimentary chat.
Nervous to be in front of the camera? Don’t leave it up to AI (Artificial Intelligence) to make just a decent likeness of you! Choose the Experience of a Custom Portrait Session with Wendy Andrews.
Authentic. Unique. Real. You!
Here are the most popular and my FAVORITE sessions:
Women 50607080+ years
Make time for you. Finally. We’ll talk. We’ll laugh. I will pose you from your toes to your fingertips. You don’t need to think at all. I’ve got you. You will see yourself through my eyes. You will feel SEEN. Confident. Enough.
People comment all the time…’you only photograph models!’…. Honestly, they’re real women and, like most of us, were nervous in front of the camera. They look like models in their portraits. They have a boost of self-esteem and confidence that carries over every time they look at their images in their album or on the walls of their home.
Headshots and Branding
A Headshot shows what you look like. A Branding session helps your target audience see what you can do for them. We begin with a conversation and questions….I always have questions! Once your session is booked, we have a consultation to help me understand your brand and what you do for your clients. We collaborate on: wardrobe, props, location ideas and then I get to work planning your custom photo session. You will have a collection of current images to use in all your media: social media, posts, book jackets, marketing & advertising – even for billboards around your town.
Yogis, Yoga studio owners & Retreats
Family As unique as those in the images. We will create a lasting memory of your laughter, of your hugs, of you and your people. How will you be remembered? How would you like to be remembered?
Intimate Portraits in Nature
Family…with 4 legs
Celebration Portraits
Teams
Underwater
Documenting the Beauty of your Garden
Limited availability sessions-please reach out with interest now
Unforgettable High School Senior Experience Families rave about my Destination Experience for their High School Portraits. We’ll travel to your chosen location to create and document memories of this incredible moment in your student’s life.
Reach out for a complimentary 15 minute phone chat!
2020 Thank you for helping me see more beauty, more vulnerability, more strength. Authentic, honest & real.
Headshot clients, Personal Branding, High School Seniors, Families, Mothers & Daughters, My 506070(80)+ project & Boudoir clients…thank you for trusting me to hold up a mirror and allow me to reflect your beautiful person back to you.
This crazy year. Lives well-lived, yet gone too soon, the photographs remain. Sue, Julie & Lori. Honored to have photographed your strength as part of Amazing Strength-an after cancer experience. The exhibit was on display earlier in 2020.
Also in 2020, a published image, that will always bring me back to the photo session on a paddle board in the lake on her 50th birthday…because age is just a number.
Two of my portraits were on exhibit at the Warehouse Gallery. The joy in her smile makes everyone step back & exhale. I look at the next image and am immediately transported back to the river on that unusually mild October afternoon. I can feel the sting of the bug bites as I tried to hold my camera steady.
Time is an odd thing, especially in 2020. Facebook memories shows me images of families with babies, our photo session from a few years ago, now they’re walking and talking with their own personalities! Those portraits have the ability to freeze time & make that moment available to return to.
Perhaps my senses are more acute this year. I’ve watched a grandmother cry; a grandfather’s tears well up in his eyes at a maternity session as I showed him an image on the back of my camera…his first grandchild about to be born; a woman who stared at her portraits without words, gasping at the confidence she saw; the dad with tears streaming down his face as he unwrapped an enlargement for over his fireplace knowing his kids (young adults) will always be there; the high school senior starting to recognize their potential…
My own tears fell as I attended/drove-through three funerals this year. The lump in my throat as I saw at each one, a familiar face & expression that took a little coaching to get to, staring back at those who gathered. I’m honored my portraits are important enough to be displayed to honor each person, friend, wife & mother.
Thank you to those I’ve had the honor to photograph this year. Thanks for reaching out for your updated social media images, your dating app images, to preserve your family memories, to stop time as your high school senior prepares to launch into the world and for entrepreneurs as you launched your new businesses!
Thank you to those who have allowed me to create this year. To create art for the walls of your home & to give as gifts.
“A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it” -EdwardSteichen 2020.
Thank you for helping me see more beauty, more vulnerability, more strength. Authentic, honest & real.2021…I’m ready!
I had the honor to photograph 39 incredible women, unique in their personalities, occupations, size, hair color and cancer treatments. I needed to photograph them so they could see themselves as the world sees them – beautiful and strong.
Each one of these women have been told those words we’ve all grown to fear – “you have cancer”. They dealt with their diagnosis, a variety of treatment, then decided to join Team Phoenix – a 14 week training program to complete their first triathlon. Crazy…especially for some of these women who had never swam before the training. The swim part of the triathlon was 1/4 mile in open water (in a lake, with seaweed, and fish, and many other swimmers). A 15 mile bike ride and 3.5 mile run/walk follow the swim.
I was a Team Phoenix 2017 Athlete. (You’re called ‘athlete’ on day 1 of training…sure beats being labelled ‘cancer survivor’). I watched so many women work really hard during practices – as I tried really hard to keep up with some of the others. Once in the water and my nerves calmed down a bit on race day, I finished the swim, biked, ran and crossed the finish line. I was able to watch as some of my fellow teammates finished, some in tears, others jumping for joy. They did it! They set out a crazy goal for themselves and completed it.
I saw such beauty in their smiles, in their joy, laughter & tears…their new-found confidence and strength. Their Amazing Strength. I knew I had to create their portrait. A portrait of their strength. So they will exist in a photograph for all time.
That’s how my ‘Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience’ personal project began. I asked for 25 volunteers from Team Phoenix – looking for all shapes and sizes. I was slightly blown away when I received almost 50 responses. I scheduled the first 25 women for a consultation and session. The consultation is part of my usual photography workflow. I want to know their story – I want to know who they are, I’m always thinking how I can make their image, their portrait unique, authentic, honest and different than anyone else’s image.
As I spoke with the first few women I realized that this group, Team Phoenix, has had an incredible impact on all of us. We were able to be our regular self – not someone who has cancer. We were able to get to know each other as we swam, biked and ran/walked in practice. For many of us, we had no idea what type of cancer our fellow athletes had. It didn’t matter. Cancer united us and allowed us to sign up for this life-changing experience. Cancer didn’t otherwise define us.
When we crossed the finish line of the triathlon, we became Team Phoenix Alumni. Although the entry fee is steep (cancer diagnosis required), it’s an association I’m honored to be part of. I realized this group of women will step up, step in and stand by your side when you need support, a good laugh, a shoulder to lean on or someone to ride their bike with you.
One of our Team Phoenix 2017 sisters passed away from cancer before I could take her photograph for this project. As my heart broke, my sense of urgency to photograph as many women as I could moved me into action. Sometimes the energy of the universe puts people in your path at the right time. My TP (Team Phoenix) sister, Jill, stepped in to organize the remaining consultations and photo sessions. In a true testament to the TP attitude, each of the athletes showed up for their session…in the Wisconsin winter months (wind, rain, below freezing temperatures, wind, snow, cold, wind)…with unbreakable spirit.
I am honored with their trust in me to photograph them. For some, swim/bike/run was probably easier than sitting in front of a camera for a photo session.
So, you may be wondering about the cancer part…
Sometimes even a photograph doesn’t tell the entire story. This group of powerful women have overcome so many obstacles. They’ve heard the dreaded words “you have cancer”. They have dealt with surgeries leaving scars in place, always a reminder. They’ve faced treatment in many forms often living with lasting side effects. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, co-workers, your boss and your best friend. They have also crossed the finish line of a triathlon. They define Amazing Strength.
39 Amazing Strength portraits include:
Athletes with many stages and types of breast cancer
Several triple negative breast cancer athletes (one celebrated 5 years! & another 10 years!)
5 year brain cancer athlete
Thyroid cancer athlete
Skin cancer athlete
One athlete who crossed the finish line while actively on chemo for a reoccurrence of ovarian cancer
Cervical, uterine, breast cancers…one athlete
An incredible assortment of chemotherapy, surgeries, reconstruction stories & radiation treatments
To those we’ve lost
& to those we’ve found
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Team Phoenix reaffirmed who I was as a woman.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Cancer is life-changing in a bad way…Team Phoenix is life-changing in a good way.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I learned I will never give up on myself.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I sometimes hate talking about cancer.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I’ve taken ownership of my health & body to keep myself alive.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Cancer didn’t have control of me anymore.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Crossing the finish line I was ’emotionally restored’.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I am Strong Proud Alive & Redefined.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
It’s a sisterhood – they get me & I get them.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
There are silver linings in everything.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Every day is a gift.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Before TP I was too focused on dying to really LIVE.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Team Phoenix allowed me to love myself.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I’m optimistic about everything.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I found my inner athlete.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I look at the bright side.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I’m getting my competitive nature back.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Team Phoenix sounded way too badass to NOT do it.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Team Phoenix was good for my whole family.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Best place I’ve been in years & years.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I love this new ME – a big awakening.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Gave me pride to do the program & to finish it.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
We pushed each other to be our best.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I wanted to show my kids that things happen in life–
pick yourself up and do positive things.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Team Phoenix made me a better leader at work.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Team Phoenix is a cancer-free zone.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I’m a resilient fighter.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I find joy on my bike.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Team Phoenix allowed me to love myself.
Amazing Strength-an after cancer experience
I felt I could start my life on a new page.
Amazing Strength an after cancer experience
We built a connection, a trust.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I felt alive again.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I found a strength I didn’t know I had.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I’m proud of myself.
Amazing Strength an after cancer experience
I have a new sense of what I can accomplish.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
Until Team Phoenix, I was a woman with cancer waiting for bad news.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I’m optimistic about everything.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
The day of the Tri, I knew it was a day of celebration.
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience
I surpassed the barriers.
The 39 women in the black & white images are redefined by crossing the finish line of a triathlon after cancer diagnosis & treatment. Each of the women pictured has a story of courage & Amazing Strength. In their strength, I see their beauty which will exist for all time in their photograph. I’m grateful to each one of them for sharing their time, their story and their enthusiasm to be part of this project.
We all had a cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, then signed up for a triathlon with Team Phoenix. A life-changing event that bonded women into sisters over 14 weeks of training. I was inspired by my teammates who had never swam prior to training, then swam 1/4 mile in a lake, biked 15 miles then ran/walked a 5k. Crossing the finish line was a moment like no other.
Team Phoenix was formed in 2011 by incredible people, innovative doctors who have seen the affects of cancer on women. A breast surgeon, a cancer physical therapist and a research oncologist. Together, they convinced a handful of women to be Team Phoenix. Since then, the team has grown each year. There are 60 athletes who will begin their training for TP2019 and take part in their triathlon in July. Strong Proud Alive & Redefined #SPAR.
This is a recap of the beautiful energy during the reveal & gallery opening:
Celebrating 39 women and their Amazing Strength in photographs. Redefined by crossing the finish line of a triathlon after cancer diagnosis & treatment.
I’ve been doing a lot of celebrating recently…my son’s graduation from Army Logistics University, a visually-stimulating visit to Cuba, and a clean mammogram this week. In the middle of all that, I’m hanging photographs of incredible women in a gallery exhibit. Amazing Strength is my personal photography project showing each woman her courage, strength and beauty which will exist in a photograph for all time.
They are images of your girlfriend, your wife, your sister, your boss.
I watched my teammates train for 14 weeks. Some crossed the finish line laughing and elated, others sobbing in tears. Strong, Proud, Alive & Redefined. I saw their strength and in their strength, I saw their beauty. I needed to photograph these women! Many had never swam before, others hadn’t been on a bicycle in 30 years, yet they signed up to do a triathlon. Cancer didn’t stop these women – it made them more determined to live.
We were all Team Phoenix athletes and now, Team Phoenix Alumni.
The exhibit opens Saturday, March 9, 2019 6-9pm and closes March 17th, 4pm. Every day I’ll give a gallery talk at 2pm. Genetti Gardens & Studio, 611 Bleeker Street, Delafield, Wisconsin.
Wendy Andrews 