“I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on, life was meant to be lived.”

 

Eleanor Roosevelt
Blue square logo for Jenny Smith Photography featuring bold white text reading 40 over 40.

40 OVER 40

Women are amazing.

Women over 40 are amazing and then some.  

This personal project is showcasing 40 incredible women all over the age of 40 who are doing incredible things for womankind.

I am photographing women who inspire me, many of whom are speaking up for the issues we face.  Some of the women featured are shining a light on midlife and the menopause, making this word less of a taboo and guiding other women through this turbulent time.  But there are many more equally amazing women being featured too, all making a difference and standing out in their own wonderful way.

I want people to see a set of beautiful, strong women and feel inspired.  I want young girls to see the photos and get excited about their futures, but mostly I want to say thank you to these women who are showing the world every single day that being over 40 really is just the beginning of something incredible. 

I will be updating this page as I go along so don't forget to check in every so often to see who's next to be featured. I will also be posting on my instagram pages @jennysmithphoto and @dearhormones.

Click HERE to read more about me, my podcast Dear Hormones and why I decided to do this project. 

Click on the images below to read more about these wonderful women who have agreed to take part in the 40 OVER 40 project.  

More photos will be added as I go along so keep checking in to see who's next to be featured.



40 OVER 40
Blue square logo for Jenny Smith Photography featuring bold white text reading 40 Over 40 with a female gender symbol.

33. Coming Soon...

CHECK BACK TO SEE HOW WILL BE FEATURED NEXT

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Blue square logo for Jenny Smith Photography featuring bold white text reading 40 Over 40 with a female gender symbol.

32. Coming Soon...

CHECK BACK TO SEE HOW WILL BE FEATURED NEXT

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Blue square logo for Jenny Smith Photography featuring bold white text reading 40 Over 40 with a female gender symbol.

31. Coming Soon...

Check back to see how will be featured next


 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

40 OVER 40
Woman in white shirt sitting at table, resting head on hand, looking up thoughtfully against white background.

30. Emma Dagnes OBE

CEO Alexandra Palace

Click on the image of Emma to read all about the work Emma does for the Alexandra Palace and Park Charitable Trust.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

An older woman in a beige fur coat and sunglasses stands in warm sunlight with shadow patterns.

29. Linda Pibworth AKA my mum

you can't have a project celebrating women over the age of 40 without celebrating your own mum.

Click on her photograph to read all about the most important woman in my life.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

A woman in a denim jacket stands confidently in an elegant dining hall with rows of wooden chairs.

28. Dr Pragya Agarwal

feminist, unconscious bias and racial literacy author and Cambridge university professor

Click on the image of Pragya to see more photos and read all about her work.


 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

40 OVER 40
Smiling older woman with short blonde hair stands by a window in soft natural light.

27. Grace MacDonald

IVf pioneer

Grace was the second woman in the world to give birth to a baby through IVF and the first to have a baby boy.  Click on the image of Grace to read all about this woman who changed my life.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Four sequential shots show someone in a green floral shirt making different poses at a bar counter.

26. Jess Phillips MP

Labour MP and Home Office Parliamentary Under Secretary

Click on the image of Jess to see more photos and read all about her wonderful work.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

A cheerful woman in a blue velvet outfit sits on the edge of a white bathtub with green tile accents.

25. Martha Silcott

Founder of Fab Little Bag

Click on Martha's photo to read all about her 'fab' invention and to see more photos.


 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

40 OVER 40
A stylish woman in a denim jumpsuit sits on a leather Chesterfield sofa in a vintage bar setting.

24. Caroline Norris

Award Winning Comedy Producer

Click the image of Caroline to see more photos and read all about her wonderful career including bringing the award winning Horrible Histories to our TV screens.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

A smiling woman in a red jacket sits at a table surrounded by lush plants and a marble bust sculpture.

23. Edwina Dunn

Founder of The Female Lead

Click on Edwina's photos to see more photos and read all about her incredible life, including how she and her husband developed the Tesco Clubcard.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

A confident woman with long gray dreadlocks poses against a bold green and white patterned background.

22. Baroness Lola Young

Baroness of Hornsey and Author

Click on the image of Lola to see more photos and read all about her journey from being in foster care in the East End of London to the House of Lords.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

40 OVER 40
A woman in a colorful blue skirt and brown jacket leans against a pastel wall on a sunny seaside promenade.

21. Karen Arthur

Midlife Author, Broadcaster and Artist

Click on the photo of Karen to see more photos and hear some inspiring words.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Woman in striped turtleneck sweater tilts head back with eyes closed on a cloudy beach.

20. Sarah Cawood

90s TV presenter and midlife blogger

Click on the photo to see more photos of Sarah and read all about her life from presenting 90s classic The Girlie Show to surviving breast cancer and life over 40.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Woman in black outfit sits confidently in a power wheelchair against a soft pink background.

19. Eleanor Lisney

Cofounder of Sisters of Frida

Click on Eleanor's photo to read all about her work championing disabled rights for women.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

40 OVER 40
Woman in red striped shirt and yellow bracelet sits thoughtfully at a table with brick wall background.

18. Caroline Jones

Fundraiser and Stylist

Click on the photo of Caroline to read all about her fundraising for Cancer Research and her passion for preloved clothing.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Blonde woman in black off-shoulder top leans against textured columns in an outdoor architectural setting.

17. Sam McAlister

Author, Public Speaker and orchestrator of that  Prince Andrew Interview

Click on Sam's photo to read some really inspiring words and see more photos we took that day.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Joyful woman in a flowing green sari twirls elegantly against a light gray background.

16. Farah Ahamed

Author or Period Matters and CoFounder of Panites with Purpose

Click on the image of Farah to see more photos and read all about her work on Period Poverty.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

40 OVER 40
Smiling woman with gray hair and glasses poses with two small dogs and a teddy bear in a cozy library.

15. Emma Kennedy

Author, Screenwriter, Menopause Mandate Ambassador

Click on Emma's photo to read more about her life and work and see more photos from our session together.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Woman in bright green jumpsuit and colorful sunglasses stands between vibrant yellow and pink painted walls.

14. Zoe Lyons

Comedian and Alopecia UK Ambassador

Click on Zoe's photo to read some really inspirational words and see more photos from our session in Hove.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Woman in leather jacket poses thoughtfully beside a vintage typewriter in a black and white portrait photo.

13. Kate Muir

Women's Health Journalist, author and documentary maker

Click on the photo of Kate to read all about her work as a journalist with Davina McCall and their Channel 4 documentaries.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

40 OVER 40
Smiling woman in colorful orange top relaxes on grey sofa in modern living room.

12. Dr Shahzadi Harper

Women's Health Doctor

Click on the photo of Shahzadi to read more about her work helping women through the menopause and to see more of the photos we took.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Woman with blue headband and locs stands in profile against vibrant pink wall.

11. Ngozi Fulani

CEO and Founder of SistaSpace Number 11

Please click on the photo of Ngozi to read all about her excellent charity helping victims of domestic violence especially in black communities.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Laughing woman with curly blonde hair wears navy top and pearl necklace indoors.

10. Sue Kent

TV Gardener and Disabled Rights Campaigner

Click on the photo of Sue to see more of the photos we took that day and to read some inspirational words.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

40 OVER 40
Enthusiastic woman in purple blazer stands with arms wide open near yellow bamboo.

9. Tracy Brabin

Mayor of West Yorkshire

Click on the photo of Tracy to read more about her excellent work as the Mayor of West Yorkshire, her time as an MP following the brutal murder of Jo Cox MP and to see more of the photos we took in under 10 minutes.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Black and white portrait of woman in bird-print wrap dress with hands in hair.

8. Dr Liz O'Riordan

Breast Cancer Surgeon turned breast Cancer Survivor

Click on the photo of Liz to see more photos we took and to read all about her journey from the operating theatre to surviving breast cancer herself.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Smiling woman in Nordic sweater rests chin on hands in bright indoor setting.

7. Diane Danzebrink

Menopause Warrior

Click on the photo of Diane to read all about her invaluable work with the campaign Make Menopause Matter and to see more photos we took that day.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

40 OVER 40
Woman in pink towel and swim cap smiles near outdoor lake after swimming.

6. Jennifer Kennedy

Midlife Blogger and Comedian

Jennifer is an hilarious blogger of all things midlife. Click on her photo to see more photos and read all about her.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Woman in olive suit sits cross-legged on wooden table in bright modern interior.

5. Elizabeth Day

Podcaster and Author

Elizabeth Day needs no introduction. She's the host of the phenomenally successful podcast How To Fail and author of numerous books both fiction and non fiction. Click on her photo to read some very wise words and see more photos we took back in 2021.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Confident woman in green jacket stands arms crossed against green corrugated wall.

4. Michelle Griffith Robinson

Olympian and Life Coach

Michelle is a former Olympian turned life coach and an ambassador for Menopause Mandate. Click on her photo to read more.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

40 OVER 40
Senior woman with short gray hair and glasses wearing fur collar coat in dark setting.

3. Carolyn Harris MP

Labour MP

Carolyn Harris is a Labour MP who has put menopause front and centre of her work. She's responsible for getting the HRT bill approved in parliament meaning women only pay one nominal fee per year for their prescription rather than every time they need more.   

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Blonde woman in white shirt and jeans sitting cross-legged on floor in elegant home interior.

2. Dr Naomi Potter

Menopause and women's health Doctor

Naomi is famous for her work helping women through menopause both with her instagram lives with Lisa Snowdon, her own midlife podcast, her award winning book on menopause with Davina McCall and of course her own  women's health clinic. Click on her photo to see more photos and read all more about her.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

Black and white collage of blonde woman expressing various facial emotions and gestures.

1. Emma Skeates

Menopausal Mayhem Mother

Click on the photo of Emma to read some very wise and funny words and to see more photos we took back in 2021.

 

Jenny Smith Photography

 

 

Let's document your story

 

Whether you're a business needing new headshots for your website, an actor or model looking to update your portfolio, a small business needing a set of images to help promote your work or you just fancy getting some great photos of yourself then I'd love to hear from you to discuss how we can make your vision come to life.

Contact Me