“A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves – a special kind of double.”
Personal Project • Sisters & Survivors
I lost my sister to Stage IV breast cancer in 2013. She was 40 years old and diagnosed only 4 months prior to her passing. In August 2016, I began photographing portraits of breast cancer survivors and fighters with their sisters. This project is in dedication to her and to her daughter, my niece Julia.
Among a million other things that I wish happened differently; as a photographer, I’ve found myself wishing I had photos of my sister and I together that captured our different personalities and special bond.
Sisters & Survivors is a portrait series of breast cancer survivors, thrivors and fighters with their sisters, made for them and free of charge.
My goal is to make these portraits across the country, inclusive of different ages, races and demographics. I also plan to publish a book of the photos and the sisters’ stories, to be used as a fundraising tool for metastatic breast cancer research. And I plan to exhibit some of the photos in breast cancer treatment centers. Many of the survivors I photograph are advocates or have purpose-driven businesses to help other people affected by this disease. I would like to help spread their messages and also raise awareness that metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer needs more funding for research.
I’m looking for sponsors and grants to help me make this project possible.
One of the subjects in the series is breast cancer survivor Dana Donofree, creator of AnaOno Intimates. In 2017, I began photographing AnaOno Intimates and Project Cancerland’s fashion shows, benefitting METAVivor. See Exposed, under Personal Projects.
Commission a portrait session by me of you with your sister, daughter, mother, or best friend, and a percentage of the session fee will go toward funding a free portrait session for a breast cancer survivor with their sister (or best friend, etc), within New York City (or be donated to METAvivor).