How long have you been a photographer? I have been a photographer ever since I was a young girl and I was reaching at the first camera I could find. When I turned 8, I got my first ‘real’ camera. From then on I also used a lot of those old-school disposable cameras that you could buy at places like CVS or Duane-Reade. Additionally, I got involved in using film cameras, but it wasn’t until I got my first digital camera that I really got involved on a more adult level. I was a freshman in high school and over Christmas break I got a DSLR camera that I treated like a point and shoot camera. From that point up through college I was lucky enough to spend my summers interning for different professionals and learning the rules of studio photography. While still in high school, I was taking various photo classes; in these classes I was taught about the ways in which people have used photos to conduct social change. These classes made me love photography even more. Learning about these social movements really shaped how I see the world today as well as how I see photography.
What do you think constitutes a woman or a man being considered a “photographer”? I think for so long men have dominated the workforce and yes, in photography and in art everyone has their own point of view and individual perspective, but women for so long haven’t been able to share their point of view. Perhaps photography is something that enables us.
How has SLU empowered your creative and artistic talents? Since coming to SLU in the fall of 2014, I have taken a total of 5 art courses, which has influenced me to become a studio-art minor. I’ve taken Ceramics, Drawing, Art History, and two photography courses. I think what I love the most about our art classes is that the teachers are able to recognize your individual talent and help guide you in the context of our class projects. I took a class with Amy Hauber, who is one of the greatest art teachers on campus. She was able to bring out a childhood-like creativity in our college-level classes, which is something that you don’t find often. My teachers have allowed me to combine my political feelings, as well as my feelings about the environment, into my classroom work. I am able to present my emotions, my knowledge, and how I see the world through various mediums.
What led you to developing this series? I had trouble starting this project. The only direction I knew I wanted to go in was to further investigate and document human faces in daily conversations. I wanted to look at how expressions changed among people when asked the same question. Right around the time of Trump’s victory in the election, I noticed all the people around me mourning. They felt loss, they felt sad, and they felt like their power had been ripped from them. People were hurt and, most of all, confused. So, I wanted to take this project in a new direction and take this opportunity to help people, to lift them up, and to provide a positive push. I just wanted to sort of recharge their emotions.
I had messaged about 40 women that I interact with on a daily basis and asked them to come into the studio for a photo project I was working on. I provided them with no information on what I was doing or why I needed each one of them specifically. The women showed up and waited outside the room. One by one, they entered the lighting studio, and once they were situated under the bright studio lights, I said the same sentence:
“Given everything that has happened in the world these past few days, and all of the things that I am sure are happening in your life, I just wanted to take this time to tell you how beautiful and incredible you are, and how much I appreciate you.”
The project took about 2 hours to document. The goal was to remind these women how beautiful and powerful they are, despite what our newly elected president may think of them.
Describe why you decided to include yourself in this project? I think it’s really important to remind others that they are important, that they are strong, and that they are beautiful, and it’s just as important to remind yourself of these things too. And I think you can only really spread positivity and love out into the world if you are able to love yourself first.
Do you have any thoughts about this series that you’d like to talk about that weren’t brought up in my interview with you today? I love that this project photographed those who identify as a female, but I also am interested in photographing those who identify as male. Men get uncomfortable with the word ‘beautiful’, because it has adopted a feminine connotation overtime. When we talk about a man’s beauty, you have to use the word handsome, which is a masculine version of the same idea. I’d like to bring both sides, men and women, together and photograph them with one another, and let everyone in the community know that they are beautiful, and that together we can make change.
Other photos from Emily Hoffman’s Portfolio:
Emily Hoffman. New York City. Member of The Dub. Photographer. Farmer. Avid Hiker/Biker/Outdoorsman. SLU Class of 2018
A link to her portfolio: http://www.artisantotable.com