What started out as a one-year project for local photographer Sherry Penner, eventually turned into a four-year endeavor showcasing local women over the age of 40.
Penner's goal was to highlight 40 women over 40 in a glamorous-style photoshoot. She says the project evolved over those four years into something much bigger, with a total of 123 women taking part. One hundred unique art portraits were created.
"We did an interview with each of the ladies and told their stories," explained Penner.
Penner noted that each of the participants was required to take three shots including something glamorous, another of their choosing, and a shot that was themed. The Blackfalds photographer would go on to create an art portrait series, giving participants the option to be included if they desired.
A big reveal party was held at the end of each year.

The Fabulous@40+ project started out as a pin-up project where women who were photographed would be digitally transformed into a 40s-style pin-up model. Penner revealed that almost all of the women who signed up were 40 or older. That project eventually morphed into the Fabulous@40+ exhibit which is currently being featured in the main lobby of the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre (LPAC).
Penner, who has also reached the 40 milestone, says the project was a chance for women to dress up and have some fun during the pandemic.
"Everybody came with this amazing story. Even people who didn't have something tragic happening to them like cancer or something, which is a lot of what people's stories were. You don't get to be 40 without coming with a story. This was their chance to just say what their accomplishments were in life...There were just a million stories that were being told."
Even just turning 40 was a huge milestone, and the women wanted to celebrate it throughout the project.

After the photo shoot, Penner would write the women's stories and post them on her blog. She says it became this real empowering group where everyone would anticipate who the next featured participant would be.
Penner is the first photographer to be featured at the LPAC. The exhibit is also part of the Calgary-based Exposure Photography Festival, another first for LPAC.
The 37 pieces on display were shot in glamour-style, which Penner says showcases the connection between the person viewing the photo and the person in the photo. Once the photos are taken Penner uses Photoshop to add the final touches.
Ponoka resident Giselle Crawford took part in the project in 2023.
"I was looking to do something for myself," she explained. "I had recently become an empty-nester and heard about the project through a coworker. It was a kind of a gift to myself, to see myself in a different way."

Crawford mentioned that it took courage to do something like this, stepping out of your comfort zone and seeing yourself in ways you wouldn't typically.
"For me, it was completely life-changing. It allowed me to step out and see myself differently. I actually got married since then and I actually attribute it to that. I had the confidence to go out and get back out in the world again after that."
She says family and friends were surprised when Crawford told them about the project.
"I think as women we tend to pigeonhole ourselves as wife or mother or executive or whatever we are. So, to get captured in your purest form, people sit up and take a second look."
The Fabulous@40+ photo exhibit will be on display at the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre until the end of the month.
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