40 Over 40 Portrait Project Mackay | Celebrating Women Over 40

Some projects are about photographs. Others are about people, connection, courage, and the stories we carry with us. The first 40 Over 40 Portrait Project in Mackay was all of these things and so much more.

As I celebrated turning 40, I wanted to do something meaningful. I wanted to celebrate women who had already reached this milestone and create a space where they could feel seen, valued, and beautiful. Most importantly, I wanted to remind women that their stories matter at every stage of life.

After months of planning, photographing, sharing stories, and meeting incredible women, the first edition of the 40 Over 40 Project came to a beautiful close with a night of celebration, connection, and a few happy tears.

The Story Behind the 40 Over 40 Portrait Project

The seed for this project was planted a long time ago.

Growing up, I remember seeing four portraits hanging proudly on the wall of my nan’s house. They were portraits of my nan, my mum, and my two aunts. Over the last 30 years, the women in those portraits have changed, but the portraits have remained.

Those photographs stayed with me. They reminded me how meaningful it is to have a photograph of yourself that becomes part of your family’s story.

In recent years, my editorial photography work with a local publication and my experience photographing women through Boudoir By Alyce have deepened that feeling. I have spent time with women, photographed them, and listened to their stories. Through those experiences, I felt a growing desire to create something that encouraged women to take up space.

Then, in January, I started thinking about how I wanted to celebrate my own 40th birthday in July.

Suddenly, it clicked.

What better way to welcome my 40s than by celebrating other women who had already reached this milestone?

The 40 Over 40 concept is not new, particularly in the boudoir photography world. However, I was excited to bring the 40 Over 40 Portrait Project to Mackay and create an opportunity for local women to celebrate themselves.

Celebrating Women Over 40 in Mackay

I initially thought women would be lining up to participate. After all, the experience included professional hair and makeup, a portrait session, and an opportunity to share their stories.

Instead, I quickly realised that saying yes to yourself is not always easy.

I heard so many different reasons why women felt they could or could not participate. Budgets, timing, confidence, vulnerability, and safety were just some of the things that came up.

Every woman had a different set of circumstances. Every woman had her own story. And every conversation reminded me why this project mattered.

I wanted these women to experience something special. I wanted them to step in front of my camera, take a moment for themselves, and see themselves in a different light.

Because being photographed is about so much more than how you look. It is about how you feel, the life you have lived, and the person you have become.

A Sea Shell, A Story, and a Reminder of Your Worth

One of the most meaningful moments of our celebration evening was sharing the story behind the sea shell necklaces I gifted to the women.

A sea shell begins as a home. It nurtures and protects the creature inside. Eventually, that creature leaves, and the shell is carried by the waves. It tumbles through the sand, gets thrown against rocks, and is shaped by everything it experiences.

Eventually, the shell washes up on the beach. Sometimes it is chipped or broken. Sometimes it remains intact.

Most people walk straight past it.

But every now and then, someone stops and picks it up. They do not see something discarded. They see something beautiful. Something that has been through a journey and has come out the other side worth treasuring.

Every mark tells a story. Every curve is unique.

Women are just like sea shells. No two are the same. We all carry different experiences, challenges, lessons, and memories. Those experiences shape us, but they never take away our worth.

I hope each woman who received a necklace that evening remembers this message whenever she sees it.

You are worthy. You are wonderful. Your story is worth celebrating.

The First 40 Over 40 Project: A Mackay First

These incredible women will always hold a special place in my heart. They are Volume One. The first edition. The trailblazers.

Together, they helped bring something new to Mackay and made the first 40 Over 40 Portrait Project possible.

Amanda, Cheryl, Collett, Deidre, Fiona, Heather, Kylee, Laura, Lucille, Lynn, Marg, Michelle, Renee, Robyn, and Sue, thank you for making my turning-40 dreams come true.

Thank you for travelling, taking time off work, and making space for yourselves. Thank you for trusting me with your stories and allowing me to create portraits that celebrate who you are.

I have loved working with each of you and creating these portraits. However, my biggest hope is that you felt special, beautiful, and proud of the women you are.

You have reminded me that there is still so much to experience, so much to learn, and so many ways to make every day matter.

I could not imagine a better way to begin my 40s than surrounded by such courageous, kind, compassionate, strong, and resilient women.

Supporting The Neighbourhood Hub in Mackay

Giving back to our community was always an important part of this project. I wanted the experience to make a difference beyond the women who participated.

After speaking with local people and researching potential charities, I was proud to choose The Neighbourhood Hub as the beneficiary of the first 40 Over 40 Portrait Project.

Their wide range of services in Mackay, including their women-focused events, made them a wonderful fit for the project.

Together, the women contributed $1,600 to The Neighbourhood Hub.

This contribution made the project even more meaningful to me. It showed how a group of women coming together to celebrate themselves could also support other women in their community.

I am incredibly proud of what we achieved together.

Thank You to the Businesses Who Made It Possible

A project like this takes a village, and I could not have brought this vision to life without the generosity and support of local businesses.

A huge thank you to Funk It Up, especially Corissa and Karlee, for creating the beautiful hair and makeup looks that helped the women feel ready for their portraits. Your talent and dedication made such a difference.

Thank you to The Barrel Room, Plattered Up, and Deli Nook, including Monique, Patti, and Simon, for providing the perfect space and incredible food for our celebration.

Thank you to Atkins Lab for printing and handcrafting every portrait.

I am also grateful to Sarah from Sarah Anderson Creative for photographing the celebration, Ashlea for being my wonderful behind-the-scenes helper and constant cheerleader, and Ruby for sharing her beautiful voice with us on the night.

Thank you to Channel 7, Core Life, and Mackay Whitsunday Life for helping spread the word about the project.

Finally, thank you to the local businesses who contributed vouchers, experiences, and prizes, including Nancy’s Gym, Ella Bache Mackay, The Avenue, The Laffo Group, Hairway Mackay, and DBCT. Your generosity helped make our celebration even more special.

Every person and business who supported this project played a part in bringing it to life.

Looking Ahead: The Next 40 Over 40 Project

As I reflect on the first 40 Over 40 Portrait Project in Mackay, I feel incredibly grateful.

What began as an idea connected to my own 40th birthday became an experience filled with meaningful conversations, personal stories, beautiful portraits, new connections, and a shared celebration of women.

It reminded me that we do not need to wait for a special occasion to celebrate ourselves. We do not need to reach a certain milestone, change our appearance, or feel completely confident before we deserve to be photographed.

We are worthy of being seen exactly as we are.

And while Volume One will always be special, I am excited about the possibility of welcoming more women into this experience in the future.

 

Would you love to be part of the next 40 Over 40 Portrait Project in Mackay?

If you are a woman aged 40 or over and would love the opportunity to celebrate your story, I would love to hear from you. Join my interest list to be among the first to hear about the next project, future opportunities, and how you can take part.

You never know what can happen when you say yes to yourself.

Here is to celebrating women, telling our stories, and remembering that every chapter of life deserves to be treasured.