When my younger sister was little, she was constantly complimented on her bright red hair, an unusual outlier in our family of brunettes. One day, when she was about five, a trip to the haircutters’ ended in what she deemed a disaster - her hair was much too short for her taste. She was inconsolable. Trying to be a good big sister, I said, “Darby, it’s okay. It’ll grow back. It’s just your hair.”
To which Darby replied: “But Hannah, I AM my hair!”
Darby had a good point. While our hair doesn’t define us completely, hairstyle is one of the most important ways we express our individuality… and it’s the inspiration behind this series of portraits. This is the first installment of a longer series which I would like to undertake, as I document people’s creative takes on what to do with their hair.
In addition to showcasing my subjects’ personal style, I wanted to practice working in a studio-like style. The only catch? Right now, I don’t have a studio - just a blank wall in my college apartment and one speed light. However, I’ve found that sometimes working with limitations can force you to think more creatively to work with what you have.
So, enjoy these portraits, and stay tuned for more hair pictures to come!
Margaret knows that sometimes, you just gotta whip your hair back and forth.
Sara also has long gorgeous hair…
…and says she’s always playing with it. She also likes to accessorize with bows and clips:
For Lydia, function comes before form; she runs for South Carolina, and a ponytail keeps her mind off her hair while she’s kicking butt on the track.
It also makes for some great action shots.
Jordan had just gotten her hair cut, and was still getting used to her new pixie cut look.
But, even women rocking shorter hairstyles can still get some good motion out of a flip!
Stay tuned for another installment of hair pictures soon!
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