From 2020 —
“I’d love the opportunity to share with you how this movement was born,
because not only do I want you to have a chance to feel connected to the vision from the very beginning, but I’d love to convey the possibilities of impactful global change that, I believe, can happen through the healing powers of community.
It all began when I hired a videographer to make a behind the scenes video of my family photography work.
Upon her encouragement, we decided to feature my intimate portrait work in the video as well — which led to me posting an advertisement for a Free Boudoir Session on my Instagram account, in search of a ‘model’ willing to be featured in the video.
In order to apply, I simply asked women to submit an email that included an unedited headshot selfie along with a bit about their current relationship with their body.
To this day I have no idea where the impetus for the headshot selfie and body story request came from, and can only conclude that I listened to the voice of inspiration.
What followed was immense shock — not only at the amount of submissions I received, but at how moved I was, and the beauty and depth at which the women shared their stories.
Through plenty of sobbing I quickly realized just how deeply transformative an intimate portrait session could be, & would be, for these women.
The single pervading thought throughout this entire emotional tidal wave was: ‘this cannot be the end of this experience’.
Meaning, I knew I could not be the only person to feel the powerful healing & connection that came from both reading their intimate stories, and seeing their beautiful faces side by side.
This singular realization was the catalyst for the complete sprouting of a project seed that I have been (unknowingly) nurturing/working toward, quite literally, my entire life.
Once I realized that all women deserved the opportunity to experience an intimate portrait session, and not only share their own story but connect with and read others, the project seed erupted into a fully fledged, traveling movement.
For the next 24 hours the outline for not only the entire project, but the potential for a much larger global movement came through me in a sort of fever dream, rendering it one of the single most inspiring (albeit sleepless) periods of my life to date.
All of which brings us to the manifestation of the first installment of WE ARE SHE themovement, in my home state of Utah.
In closing, I’d like to share with you the very first thought I wrote down during that initial 24 hr ‘fever dream’:
‘THERE IS A MOVEMENT WANTING TO HAPPEN, AND I AM HONORED TO BE THE ONE WITH THE APPROPRIATE SKILL SET TO FORMALIZE IT AND PUT IT IN MOTION.’
Upon reflection, I’d like to think I wanted a concrete reminder that this project was, and always will be, so much bigger than me; that it will forever be about INCLUSION, because in this life, we rise together or not at all. Xx “
Jenifer Fairchild
Photographer & Founder of WE ARE SHE themovement
FROM 2024 —
“Though this project began with a focus on women, all installations moving forward will include all bodies, so that we may learn to celebrate, respect, and understand what it means to be human.”
