New York City Photographer
Shaun Alexander helping model
with breast cancer
Story of hope, courage and friendship between a model and a photographer
OK. we are all familiar with this expression: ” A picture tells a thousand words” but unfortunately most people don’t ever know how each and every single one of these images is created or even inspired!
Here is one of my favorite stories about, LIFE, HOPE, COURAGE, FRIENDSHIP, POSITIVE THINKING, GRATITUDE AND MOST OF ALL THE POWER OF THE UNIVERSE!
I met this amazing ( anonymous) model and the strongest woman I’ve come across more than a decade ago in New York City over a decade ago
Shortly after we met, she shared her devastating news of being diagnosed with breast cancer. But her positive attitude and strength were beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. which transpired me to make a FRIENDSHIP pact offering her a fully paid trip to LA and a great shoot in celebration of her recovery!
Little that I knew, that was the spark she needed to ignite her HOPES & DREAMS of becoming as healthy and as beautiful as she was when we met before our photoshoot!
And the Universe REWARDED her POSITIVITY & COURAGE with exactly what we both wished for! A complete bill of health! Without the need of any surgery!
Fast-forward, I was in tears when I see her sitting on my studio chair, looking more stunning than ever, after everything she went through to get here… A complete surreal moment, I’ll never forget!
And the rest is history, we created some of the most magical and creative images together, that I am very proud of!
This particular image was created with nothing but a few torn pages out of a Swarovski’s catalog, a few feet of yarn and some safety pins to create the necklace, the hat and her watch…which can’t be seen here! And the reason I had to become so resourceful, was because our arrangement with Swarovski’s store to get the real Jewelry pieces fell through due to some last-minute corporate miscommunication and that fact that she needed to fly out the next day
At the end, we could not be happier with the results! ( as they say, everything happens for a reason! )
Her painterly expression paired with a few simple touches of artistry and style created a timeless image. Not only celebrating her feminine beauty and recovery but an image of hope, courage, friendship and so much more….at least for me!
Thank God, over a decade later she is still completely cancer free, happily married with a couple of gorgeous babies. LIVING THE LIFE! as we all should!
BE GRATEFUL, STAY POSITIVE, WISH GREAT THINGS UPON OTHERS! AND YOU WILL BE HANDSOMELY REWARDED. I PROMISE! Forever grateful. Shaun Alexander
