One of the best things about social media is discovering and connecting with inspiring women, doing incredible things, around the world. One of those women is Susie Lang.
Australian-born, New York-based, Susie is a psychotherapist and photographer, who's photography I first discovered on social media through her platform @women.60.plus that features beautiful, candid portraits of - you guessed it - women over 60.
As a portrait photographer (Susie's other platform is @populationportraits), Susie specialises in deeply connecting with her subjects, bringing kindness, empathy and heart to her work; a skill that is no more evident than in her portraits of women over 60. Through @women.60.plus, Susie shines a light on the beauty and individuality of ageing, and offers and inspires true visibility.
So when Susie reached out to say she was coming to London, I jumped at the chance to meet for coffee. And what an inspiring, wonderful chat we had - we could have spoken for hours... So I had to follow up by asking Susie to be interviewed for our blog to share with you too her experience, motivation, insight and stories:
What is your background and how did you get into photography?’
I grew up on a farming property in the mid~northern part of South Australia with my parents and brothers. My father was a keen and talented sportsman. Back in the 1960’s he bought one camera for the family to use ~ really it was for him, to capture his sporting achievements. My brothers weren’t interested in doing any photography so, at the age of 10, I became my father’s “designated” photographer! After he finished all things sporty, I asked to use the camera, really just to experiment with it! From the age of 12, I used the camera, photographing the people and activities that contributed to an active farming life. The caveat was, that in doing this, I worked on the property to pay for the film and the processing of my creative adventures! In many ways, my organic and experiential photographic pursuits was an escape from the harshness of farming life. While no-one really inspired me as a pre-teen to work with this little camera, I felt I had found my creative niche, because I could “see” things that others could not.
After graduating from secondary school and into my adult years, I always had a camera “attached to my hip” throughout my life. In the mid 1980’s, I graduated from a London School of Design, majoring in Photography ~ my biggest confidence boost was in being awarded the Kodak Award for Outstanding Portraiture. It felt like a validation of my work and the connections I created with the people I work with. This was really my beginning of focusing on portraiture.
"An under-served, under-recognized and often invisible group within the population, there seemed to be an opportunity in making a difference to the Western World at large, that women over 60 are a collective group of inspirational beings. "
What inspired you to start @women.60.plus?
In 2016, my awareness around women’s issues was heightened following much media attention and in conjunction with the US Presidential Election. I turned 60 in 2017. Within myself, I was feeling invisible and insignificant. How could I make a difference, how could I contribute? I felt it would only be on a small scale, but that was OK for me. I have recognized and trusted in my gut, that if I’m feeling something, then I can be sure there’ll be others feeling similarly. I wanted to find a niche for myself, and having a purpose in my life was going to be the catalyst in working with older women .
As a psychotherapist and a photographer, it felt like a good combination in beginning my work in supporting women.
What drew you to specialize in photographing women who are 60 years old and above?
In 2016, I felt, in part, overwhelmed with the magnitude of the focus surrounding Women’s Issues in the Media. And yet, I knew that I had a responsibility through my art and work to somehow make a difference. It was at this point, aged 60, that I hit upon the idea of working photographically with older women. An under-served, under-recognized and often invisible group within the population, there seemed to be an opportunity in making a difference to the Western World at large, that women over 60 are a collective group of inspirational beings. I had the greatest potential in shining my light on older women. Being one myself, it felt like an organic and natural fit for me.
Being seen and heard is one of life’s greatest and rarest gifts - it is inspirational and often life-changing. In my psychotherapeutic client work, being deeply heard in a session is often transformational. In my photographic work, being seen (and heard) as we work together, is also transformational. Women over 60 are a collective of inspirational beings, and I, being in the same age bracket, naturally gravitated towards this journey of empowerment. It continues to be a way that women have begun to see themselves in a new light, being seen with new eyes. And it is through the connection between myself and each women is rewarding. Both fields require me to be in relationship with the other - either in counseling and or photography. It is the relationship that heals - and with the photographs, the women have seen for the first time in a long time - they speak of their “essence shining through”.
"Being seen and heard is one of life’s greatest and rarest gifts"
What unique qualities do you find in this age group that inspire your work?
Each of us, have unique qualities, a personality, an essence, that has often been “in~hiding” for a long time. I want to hone in on this, the often forgotten core of each woman. My connection with each woman is mutual, affording a sense of COMMUNITY. As I’ve transformed in becoming more VISIBLE to/for myself, gaining a deeper sense of self-assurance and inner validation, I am aware that I radiate my authentic self outwards, seemingly and organically, drawing others towards me. It is, what I call the Art of Connection. They in turn, radiate back to me!
I am not alone in this! There is an increasing sense of community of women on similar paths, working individually yet collectively. There is a huge plethora of women who resonate in this work. It is a powerful testament to the strength of shared experiences and common goals. In building a supportive community, there is a vital source of inspiration, encouragement, and learning.
My work is both personal and universal, making a significant impact on the lives of women, contributing to a broader conversation about self-acceptance, visibility, and empowerment. It serves as a reminder of the importance of self-discovery, authenticity, and the transformative power of human connections. Working one on one, my work often feels small and intimate and yet somehow, profoundly rich and expansive. It is these remarkable women who have, in part, helped me find my way. Most women gather emotional and fundamental support from other women - a parallel depth of understanding, life experience, wisdom and a sense of knowing. Behind an aging facade, is a woman who has lived her life, who has desires and dreams, who is searching for meaning, who is looking for purpose, who still has a life to live and who wants to make her own choices whether to be visible/invisible at times that suit each of us. I am passionate about capturing the pure being of her.
"It is my greatest hope that in working with each of my sitters, that each of them will see themselves in a different light, even for just a moment. "
How do you approach capturing the essence and personality of 'older' individuals through your photography? Are there specific techniques you use to make them feel comfortable and confident during the shoot?
Throughout my life, people have often confided in me. I have never known why this is but listening is at the heart of my approach. It is an honor to hold people’s stories and with confidentiality. It is something that I continue to aspire to.
In my approach in capturing each woman, I prioritize building trust and comfort, often meeting clients in advance without my camera, or on the photoshoot day, talking first before bringing out my camera, emphasizing the qualities they love about themselves. Being heard is a deeply powerful and rare gift. It has become increasingly important to simply hear their life stories and anxieties about being photographed. So often, our well-tuned “CRITIC” is up and kicking at the thought of being photographed and I aim to temper this part for our photoshoot.
It takes so much courage to have a portrait done ~ and with older women, this is paramount. Being photographed is often an intimate and revealing experience and one that a lot of women are terrified about. With this in mind, I am in no hurry to capture a woman who then has the courage to be in front of my big camera. At the photoshoot, I always offer “instant~gratification” Phone~Photos, so that each woman can really “see” what I am experiencing through my lens. This seems to be deeply reassuring. Even the most seasoned of sitters feel anxious in the beginning. I have patience and will only finish my work when I can sense (goose-bump sense) that I have some great images. I am simply being me in relation to each woman. I like to make this a fun experience ~ I recognize that most have forgotten how to play! I love showing women images throughout our shoot. This seems to help.
What experience do you hope women have when they are being photographed by you?
It is my greatest hope that in working with each of my sitters, that each of them will see themselves in a different light, even for just a moment. Each woman is the center of my undivided attention for a short period of time. When I’m in a photographic session, it’s as if the camera disappears, and I’m connecting with another woman, WOMAN to WOMAN. I feel I have used my empathic and compassionate self in my work and as I’ve become more confident in my photographic work, all things technical have gone to the background of my mind. I simply am with each woman.
I would love each woman to see themselves with new and non-critical eyes, as I have seen them in my camera and in our photographic shoot together. I hope that each woman trusts me enough to begin to feel comfortable in their own skin, to radiate from within.
You typically shoot 'on location' rather than in a studio; why do you prefer to shoot this way?
Yes, I love shooting outside ‘on location’. It seems more natural, and certainly I feel more comfortable photographing outside. I love to use natural light as much as possible, a soft and more natural light. I will use a reflector and/or a hand~held flash unit as a fill~in light if needs be. Being on location offers a great variety of location~character. I also suggest meeting in/nearby my sitter’s home/apartment. I believe that each woman feels more comfortable having her things around her, for her to chose outfit changes if she wants. As it is often a challenging experience, I try to minimize too many scenarios for my sitters.
"In working with older women, there is an organic mutual respect, a flow of energy, a sensitivity, a sense of knowing that we have lived a life, full of experience, gaining wisdom and insight."
Can you share a particularly memorable or heartwarming experience you've had while photographing someone over the age of 60?
I’ve had so many valuable and heartwarming experiences in photographing women over the years. Here are two although you may only want to use one!
1. I was out in NYC, on a busy Street, photographing a woman who had asked for some urban~styled headshots. Engrossed in my work, a woman, Faith in her 60’s, walked towards me on the sidewalk, and said, “I know you”! She looked familiar to me as well. Of course, our connection was Instagram! After a short conversation on location, she asked if I had time to photograph her. “Of course”! I said. During the following weeks, we set up a photoshoot date, in her neighborhood. She had never been photographed by a professional photographer before and like most women, she was very anxious. We worked together and within 30 mins, I could really sense she was relaxing in our work together. At one point, I said to her that she was “it’s as if you’re radiating from within”. It was at this point she began to cry ~ as if she had been seen for the first time. I comforted her, just saying that I had no other commitments on that day and that we could work again when she was ready and feeling comfortable. And that’s exactly what we did. From this moment, she beamed!
2. A heartwarming story of Ejaye in her 80’s, an entertainer and jazz singer, was introduced to me by another performing artist and good friend, Rosalinde. When I first met Ejaye, I walked into her apartment to be met by three “larger than life” black and white portraits of her. I was struck by her powerful presence in these images ~ a sense of feeling empowered in her art. This showed me how impactful her presence and voice had been in her younger life. Later in her life, Ejaye suffered from Bell’s Palsy, preventing her from performing and being on stage. Rosalinde felt that in working with me, Ejaye might begin to find some confidence in getting back to her performance which she was most passionate about. In her small, dark and beautifully colorful apartment, I had captured some sensitive portraits of her, being aware of her Palsy, I emphasized her other strong features ~ her eyes, her hair, her complexion and her pure presence. Later, we walked out into her neighborhood, taking more photographs with her friends. Ejaye and her daughters loved the images I took of her. Along with her continued voice lessons, the support from family and friends, time, her healing Palsy and my images gave her the courage and confidence to perform again. In conversation with Rosalinde some months later, she mentioned that Ejaye had started performing again on small and intimate stages.
I notice, that in working with older women, there is an organic mutual respect, a flow of energy, a sensitivity, a sense of knowing that we have lived a life, full of experience, gaining wisdom and insight. We have connected, we have seen each other and a sense of living life. Talk about the power of now, being in the present moment with self and in connection with another. Inspirational indeed!
"Each of us, have unique qualities, a personality, an essence, that has often been “in~hiding” for a long time. I want to hone in on this, the often forgotten core of each woman."
What advice do you give to older people who might be apprehensive about being photographed due to concerns about their appearance or age?
This is such a valuable question ~ thank you for asking this one! There are SO MANY barriers each woman needs to address for herself ~ for sure, a lot of external pressures and also our mighty selves as our super~critic comes alive and to the fore as we continue to age. On so many occasion throughout the time I have been working with older people (mostly women,) I hear, “Oh, I don’t look good in photographs”. In understanding this I too have felt this for myself. I realized that I had to change this for myself ~ in part, to begin to understand another person’s perspective in how they see themselves. This has enabled me to explore different approaches in working with older women, to perhaps enable them to see themselves (just for a moment) with empathic eyes and with a different perspective. During COVID, the world had to isolate. This was challenging time to a huge percentage of the population. Me included! What COVID did for me, was to take a DEEP DIVE into focusing on personal awareness and exploration. My @women.60.plus work gained new insight from here on in. In 2017, my anxiety was that I was becoming INVISIBLE. As I’ve aged I have become more VISIBLE to myself and certainly after COVID it helped me to acknowledge this to really notice myself. From this point onwards, I have often known that I wanted to offer this sort of personal learning to older women, while connecting through my photography. And on some level, I too must accept that some women are too uncomfortable to enter this experience at this point in their lives. Being photographed is often a most challenging experience, and one that can be an intimate and exposing art form, revealing parts of ourselves that we just don’t seem to love. As a woman in my mid 60’s, I want to offer to other women the opportunity to really begin to explore and see themselves, through the “Art of Connection”, focusing on moments of positive regards for self.
I invite women to explore the possibility of re~discovering your hidden core ~ who you are has been within you since the day you were born. My hope is for you to find your courage within yourself and to experience new feelings. What do we have to lose? How might this be, to take a chance? It’s about grabbing a moment in rediscovering your inner radiant beauty, your core, which has possibly been in hiding for a long time. I have often considered that most of us have been “on hold” as those around us grow and blossom. And at this stage in our life, what do we have to lose by having the courage to been seen? In my work, I want to see women seeing themselves with different eyes, through my lens, as I capture each woman.
What message or feeling do you hope to convey through your images and work?
I hope to convey that quality in our life, is an acknowledgement to ourselves. I hope that I can convey an air of trust, sensitivity, confidence in my work, positiveness, allowing each woman to feel “comfortable in her own skin”. And in this, giving self~assuredness and confidence to each woman as her wisdom, inner~beauty, as her sense of self emerges out. I hope I can portray my personality, the “who I am” in my work, which in turn I deeply trust will enable others to discover the “who they are”. In working with older women for over 6 years in this field, every woman has experienced some depths of anxiety in being photographed. ME TOO for myself! It is part of my life, and I am learning to come to terms with this. I want to break down these barriers and invite women to simply take a chance in being VISIBLE to themselves in having a photoshoot with a photographer of her choice.
Find out more about Susie and her work at:
https://www.susielangphoto.com/
and follow at:
https://www.instagram.com/women.60.plus/
https://www.instagram.com/populationportraits/
https://www.instagram.com/susielang/
Ladies featured in the photographs in order of appearance (all photographed by Susie, unless stated otherwise):
- Susie Lang @women.60.plus and @populationportraits Photo: @
robbiequinnnyc - Mary @marymarinodesigns
- Carolyn @carolyndoelling
- April @grantworld
- Diane @dianebrittsmith
- Angie @angiewrightofficial
- Jacqui @thedetailofstyle
- Patrice @sanmiguelpatrice
- Sally @sallybassjewelry
- Alison @thin_latin_moose
- Suzen @suzenwolf
- Vivia
- Carolyn @carolyndoelling
- Carol @carolelizabethdietz
