Steph Rufa 50 over 50

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Stephanie Rufa

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Genuine. Generous. Blessed.

1. If you met your younger self for coffee (or a glass of wine!) what advice would you give her?
  Set some goals: appreciate the discipline & sacrifice required; the satisfaction of accomplishment; and believe you deserve your success.
  Be flexible: success, change and set-backs are all just new opportunities.
  Be joyful.
  Be open.
  Be appreciative.
  Be grateful.
  Be present.
  Be kind.
  Develop an abundance mentality, don’t allow space for fear, scarcity, and comparison.
  Be confident – know your value, know your worth, know yourself – don’t compromise who you are for anyone else.
  Enjoy the day-to-day (the process, your journey), even when it seems nothing ever changes and even if you feel stuck, do something to bring joy to each day.
2. If someone in the future found one of your photographs what do you hope they would see? What would you want them to know about you?
  I hope they see joy.
  I would want them to know this was a difficult year that started in the shadow of the unexpected loss of my mom. And yet, despite all the sadness and grief, my life is still abundant, full of love and hope, and I have found immense joy and comfort in being with my family.
  I’ve come to understand my greatest comfort since losing my mom is knowing she loved me and knowing that she knew I loved her. That is the greatest gift we could give to each other – and we did.
  I’ve opened up a bit since her passing: I hug more. I say “I love you” more often.
  I’m trying to be better, to be more kind, to be more open. I’m not perfect, my life is not perfect, it is not always easy – but I know my life is good, and I am blessed, and I am grateful for my experience.
  And this understanding brings me joy.
  So, I hope they see joy.
4. What brings you joy?
  Spending time with my family. Everyone is so busy with school and work when we do get a night together we make dinner, play cards and hang out. It’s fun just being together and catching up.

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

Everyone has a story. The Planet Photo Portrait Magazine features the participants of the 2022 Portrait Experience and a little about each participant; their dreams, their real life stories and the experiences that shaped them.

BOOK YOUR OWN
Portrait experience

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Suzie Gilbert 50 over 50

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Suzie Gilbert

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Grit. Hope. Humor.

1. Did you notice a change in yourself when you turned 50? Did that come earlier or later?
  Greater determination to achieve my goals.
3. If you met your younger self for coffee (or a glass of wine!) what advice would you give her?
  Brace yourself!
4. If someone in the future found one of your photographs what do you hope they would see? What would you want them to know about you?
  I hope they would see someone strong, resilient, and fun. I’d want them to know that I loved my kids, family, and friends, and fought for wildlife and the natural world.
5. Tell me a little bit about your family/heritage.
  I grew up in Oyster Bay, New York. My parents are deceased. I have one brother and aunts, uncles and cousins scattered around New England. I traveled a lot before I was 30 but then settled in New York’s Hudson Valley, where I raised my two children. They are now 27 and 29 and I’m so proud of them. My son Mac is a licensed arborist and owns his own tree company in Newburgh, New York, and my daughter is a photographer, writes short stories, and bartends in the East Village of New York City.
6. What have been your greatest challenges in life?
  Raising my kids as a single mother.
7. What are your most proud of?
  My kids! I am most proud of them. I am also proud of my books and the work I have done with wild birds.
8. What brings you joy?
  Time with my family and friends, hiking in the woods, riding horses, and swimming with dolphins.
9. Something else that other’s might find interesting!
  I lived through the ’80s in New York City

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

Everyone has a story. The Planet Photo Portrait Magazine features the participants of the 2022 Portrait Experience and a little about each participant; their dreams, their real life stories and the experiences that shaped them.

BOOK YOUR OWN
Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

Sonia Santavenere 50 over 50

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Sonia Santavenere

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Loving. Trusting. Caring.

1. If you met your younger self for coffee (or a glass of wine!) what advice would you give her?
  In life always be ready for a challenge. Life has its ups and downs and you just have to take it one day at a time.
2. If someone in the future found one of your photographs what do you hope they would see? What would you want them to know about you?
  I am a very forgiving person and a go-getter
3. Tell me a little bit about your family/heritage.
  We are from Morant Bay Jamaica West Indies. I was the first person in my immediate family to come to this country. After ten years I was able to bring my family to the United States with me. My mother worked in this country as a nanny. My brother is a program manager for the state of Connecticut and my sister was a nurse at the local hospital for many years. We are a close close knit family that always remembers our roots and take care of our kids.
4. What are your most proud of?
  I am most proud of my career as a cosmetologist and the woman I’ve become. For example being able to empower woman not only behind the chair but also through many events that I host like Girls let’s talk, our hat party and educating woman about the dos and don’t of their different hair types.
5. What brings you joy?
  My 4 grandkids bring me joy. Nahla, Miles, Journey and Gunner.
6. Something else that other’s might find interesting!
  I always speak my mind and say it like it is.

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

Everyone has a story. The Planet Photo Portrait Magazine features the participants of the 2022 Portrait Experience and a little about each participant; their dreams, their real life stories and the experiences that shaped them.

BOOK YOUR OWN
Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

Survivor portraits experience

Survivor Portraits Experience

Kat

The human spirit has an amazing capacity to overcome adversity.

Celebrating the everyday survivors that live amongst us.

My name is Kat and I am a survivor.

Resilient. Powerful. Independent.

1. What have been your greatest challenges in life?
  
  I struggle with anxiety and depression making it very hard to go through daily tasks. My greatest challenges in life so far have been getting through the day and facing certain situations.
  
  Describe your situation.
2. At the age of 13 I went through a very traumatic experience. I was young and I wasn’t quite sure how to handle the situation, and I didn’t know who to go to, or how to get help. I turned into a very angry, upset person and I would sometimes act out in ways that didn’t benefit me. I got suspended from school, and even would skip days of school. Going through the system at school and the law was exhausting. All of this stress, anxiety, and sadness turned out to be too much and I unenrolled from that school and transferred to a different school to start my long journey of healing.
4. Did you ever feel alone in your journey?
  
  Yes. Even though I had support I still felt alone at times. No one fully understood the situation but me.
5. What helped you most?
  
  My sister Ann, and my best friend Olivia.
7. What are your most proud of?
  
  I’m most proud of how far I’ve gotten and how much I have healed. When everything had occurred it felt like the earth came crashing down and it would never stop crashing.
9. What brings you joy?
  
  Being around people I love, reading, and sunny days.
10. A word from Kat’s mom Liz
  
  This experience was amazing for Kat. I think this is a step in the healing process for her.
  
  I got to see her smiling, laughing and enjoying herself. I saw confidence in her again. Thank you!

The SURVIVOR PORTRAIT EXPERIENCE

Celebrating the strength and resilience of 23 Survivors

Each subject has a unique story to share.

You’ll share your story and we’ll plan your personalized portrait session in an initial consultation. I want you to feel confident so I have a professional make up artist at each shoot to make sure you look and feel your very best. Even top models need help with posing and my years of experience in the studio will guide you into the poses that will capture the very best version of you.

I’ll share your story and your favorite portrait in an exclusive coffee table book featuring 23 survivors for 2023. You will receive a beautiful heirloom quality fine art print to share with family and friends so that you will always remember this experience. Additional prints and products are available for purchase if you fall in love with more than one.

Resilience is essential for our survival and well-being, both as individuals and as a society. It helps us to bounce back from setbacks and learn from our mistakes, allowing us to become stronger and more adaptable. Sharing those feelings inspires others to continue their journey.

To those survivors of illness, loss, abuse, divorce or addiction - join me on this incredible and empowering portrait experience.

BOOK YOUR OWN
SURVIVOR
Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

Shannon O’Connor 50 over 50

Pilar DeMann 50 over 50

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Pilar DeMann

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Beauty. Honesty. Love.

1. Did you notice a change in yourself when you turned 50? Did that come earlier or later?
  So many people suggested that turning 50 was going to be hard, it hasn’t been for mw. I feel stronger and more secure in who I am as a person. Aging physically is a bit daunting but there are so many things we can do to keep up our appearance, I don’t feel nervous. I think I looked my best at 40 but I think I look damn good at 50!
3. If you met your younger self for coffee (or a glass of wine!) what advice would you give her?
  oh wow! Not to worry so much in general and not to worry so much about what other people think. To feel confident to go out in the world and shine.
4. If someone in the future found one of your photographs what do you hope they would see? What would you want them to know about you?
  I would want them to see a woman. Fulfilled.
5. Tell me a little bit about your family/heritage.
  My parents are wonderful and married 54 years, they are both of Eastern European dissent but both born in the US. I get my beauty from my Mother but look like my Dad.
6. What have been your greatest challenges in life?
  My greatest challenge in life was not knowing what I wanted to be or to do. I honestly always wanted to be a Mother, and I am, and it is my greatest joy and gift. But I struggled professionally because I didn’t know what I wanted and tried many different professions until I went back to my roots.
7. What are your most proud of?
  My family. Without question.
8. What brings you joy?
  Outside of my family, my work brings me joy. I love working with people of all ages and sharing my knowledge and experience with them and helping them look and feel better about themselves
9. Something else that other’s might find interesting!
  I never give up!

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

Everyone has a story. The Planet Photo Portrait Magazine features the participants of the 2022 Portrait Experience and a little about each participant; their dreams, their real life stories and the experiences that shaped them.

BOOK YOUR OWN
Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

Peggie Bice 50 over 50

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Peggy Bice

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Intuitive. Loving. Compassionate.

1. Did you notice a change in yourself when you turned 50? Did that come earlier or later?
  I thought becoming 50 would be a monumental event in my life. I mean, c’mon, half of a century old?? But I did not experience any significant changes in my life upon my birthday. Somewhere between 60 and 65 I saw and felt changes in the mirror, that were disappointing, and in my energy levels, body shape and desires for more quiet and contemplation.
3. If you met your younger self for coffee (or a glass of wine!) what advice would you give her?
  Don’t hide your true self. You’re beautiful exactly the way you are. Love fully. Trust your instincts. Hug a little longer. It’s okay to disappoint others.
4. If someone in the future found one of your photographs what do you hope they would see? What would you want them to know about you?
  I have a zest for life. I would hope they would see compassion, wisdom, soft strength and a fun loving spirit.
  (I’m not so good at this so I asked my daughter. Here is her response: They would see the kindest and softest eyes Someone who has seen and experienced an incredible amount and has persevered and found so much beauty and greatness in all of it. They would see a woman who raised 2 women who have fought to be half as courageous, strong, loving, generous, kind and driven as she. They would see one of the most beautiful women who has every lived. )
5. Tell me a little bit about your family/heritage.
  I am of Irish ancestry. We are people who can laugh, love and work hard. We all love to sing. Most of us would give you a kidney or the shirt off our backs and curse you the entire time. LOL
6. What have been your greatest challenges in life?
  To find gratitude and peace through heartbreaking loss and disappointments. I consider myself to be the luckiest woman in the world despite the loss of my two favorite men – my son and my brother. And I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m grateful for every minute I shared with them both. The challenges? Sometimes to smile and say thank you. And sometimes to see the gift.
7. What are your most proud of?
  Finding gratitude and strength through heartbreaking loss and disappointments. My ability to continue to be of service to others, to be a grounding healing force
  for others. Seeing my patients grow and heal. Having daughters who are strong, beautiful women. All of my children have such magnificent hearts.
8. What brings you joy?
  Chubby baby cheeks. The first snowfall of the season. Sitting by a fire. Spring bird songs. Hear my grandchildren call me granny. The love of my daughters. Every puppy that ever lived. Laughter. The dawn. Thunder.
9. Something else that other’s might find interesting!
  I am a therapist, a shamanic energy healer and a white witch. I love my chickens and collecting their eggs to give to others.

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

Everyone has a story. The Planet Photo Portrait Magazine features the participants of the 2022 Portrait Experience and a little about each participant; their dreams, their real life stories and the experiences that shaped them.

BOOK YOUR OWN
Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

Survivor Portrait Experience

Celebrating the strength and resilience of 23 survivors in a survivor portrait experience with Planet Photo.

Karen Bernard 50 Over 50

Meet Karen Bernard, one of the real women who participated in the Planet Photo 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

Patricia Hicks 50 Over 50

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Patricia Hicks

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Independent. Strong. Loving.

Did you notice a change in yourself when you turned 50? Did that come earlier or later?
I was widowed at the age of 48. After 27 years of marriage I was solo for the first time since I was 19. Scary to say the least, for many reasons. I met my current husband online when I was 53. Needless to say the changes that I experienced at the age of 50+ were some of the most significant of my life. Losing a spouse changes every aspect of life. There is no part of you that goes untouched.
If you met your younger self for coffee (or a glass of wine!) what advice would you give her?
Life is short and can change in a heartbeat, whether for good or bad. Make the most of the time you have with friends and family. Also, work is not your life.
If someone in the future found one of your photographs what do you hope they would see? What would you want them to know about you?
I would hope that they would see beauty, self confidence and strength. I would want them to know that I am uniquely me.
Tell me a little bit about your family/heritage.
I am the youngest of 4 (2 sisters and a brother). I have 2 children and 3 bonus children, all of whom are adults at this point. I have 7 grandchildren in total (5 from my daughter and 2 from my husband’s son). They range from 17 to 6. My heritage is Irish, English and Hungarian. My late husband was pure Italian. I like to tell my kids that they are Heinz 57.
What have been your greatest challenges in life?
My greatest challenge was picking myself up and rebuilding my life after the death of my 1st husband. Nothing that I had experienced to that point compared.
What are your most proud of?
I am most proud of my family.
What brings you joy?
Family, holiday gatherings, vacations. And driving my VW convertible!
Something else that other’s might find interesting!
Life doesn’t always go the way that you want it to and good definitely can come from the bad. I am thankful to have met and married 2 exceptional men. Both very different from one another but both the loves of my life.

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

Everyone has a story. The Planet Photo Portrait Magazine features the participants of the 2022 Portrait Experience and a little about each participant; their dreams, their real life stories and the experiences that shaped them.

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Stephanie Rufa

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Genuine. Generous. Blessed.

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

BOOK YOUR OWN Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Suzie Gilbert

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Grit. Hope. Humor.

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

BOOK YOUR OWN Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Sonia Santavenere

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Loving. Trusting. Caring.

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

BOOK YOUR OWN Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

Survivor Portraits Experience

Kat

The human spirit has an amazing capacity to overcome adversity.

Celebrating the everyday survivors that live amongst us.

My name is Kat and I am a survivor.

Resilient. Powerful. Independent.

The SURVIVOR PORTRAIT EXPERIENCE

Celebrating the strength and resilience of 23 Survivors

Each subject has a unique story to share.

To those survivors of illness, loss, abuse, divorce or addiction - join me on this incredible and empowering portrait experience.

BOOK YOUR OWN SURVIVOR Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Pilar DeMann

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Beauty. Honesty. Love.

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

BOOK YOUR OWN Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Peggy Bice

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Intuitive. Loving. Compassionate.

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

BOOK YOUR OWN Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

50 over 50 2022 Edition

Patricia Hicks

Meet the participants of the 50 over 50 Portrait Experience 2022 Edition.

In their own words……

Independent. Strong. Loving.

The Stories behind the faces

Each subject has a unique story to share – find all the stories in our exclusive magazine

The 50 over 50 PORTRAIT Magazine

BOOK YOUR OWN Portrait experience

Join me on a fun and incredible adventure

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