Chez Garage Project 2020

There is no denying that 2020 was a very difficult year for many of us. From a photographer’s standpoint, especially one that photographs weddings, 2020 was filled with many challenges including re-scheduling, cancellations and overall turmoil.

From all of my 2020 photography experiences, there is one project I can say has been a pivotal moment in my portrait photography career. We had been on lock down for a few months when I found myself desperate to photograph someone, and not just anyone, photograph a woman needing a little boost of confidence. I saw a post from a photographer friend, looking to lift her spirits and wanting to get pictures done. I of course, jumped at the opportunity.

I’ve been a wedding photographer for more than 12 years and I absolutely love capturing these special moments in a couple’s life but there is something that truly nurtures my photographer’s soul and that is photographing and empowering women through not just photos, but an entire photography experience. That is what this project is all about. It is a restorative photography experience for women. This is an opportunity that allows them to feel great and restore some of the things we lose in our day to day routines as moms, as business owners, as wives, as women.

Chez is a french term meaning “At the home of” and that is where the name CHEZ GARAGE came from. Remember, this was right after quarantine so I was trying to keep a safe distance from people while adhering to all the regulations imposed by our past lock down. Instead of photographing women in a closed studio, or in a public location where people needed to wear a mask, I drove to the safety of their homes, kept my distance, stayed outdoors (their garage) and created a comfortable and fun experience for them. I can write more about this and what motivated me to entertain this idea, but let me show you instead. Here are some of my favorite images from my year of photographing CHEZ GARAGE PROJECT SESSIONS.