Talking Frames 15 - Carolyn Mendelsohn Exploring Identity & Creativity through Portrait Photography
Carolyn Mendelsohn is a celebrated English portrait photographer and filmmaker, renowned for her deeply empathetic, co‑produced approach to storytelling through images.
Carolyns work transcends visual beauty: it’s about connection, agency, and the co-creation of narratives with her subjects. Her portraits don’t just freeze moments—they invite viewers into a shared space of honesty, vulnerability and empowerment, shaped collaboratively from the very first conversation.
Her acclaimed projects, such as Hardy and Free (originally commissioned as part of the Brontë Parsonage Museum Contemporary Arts Programme), delves into women's personal stories and their relationships with landscape - inspired by a quote by Emily Brontë, "I wish I were a girl again, half-savage and hardy, and free…"
Being Inbetween and Age of Wonder, focus on themes of identity, adolescence, and transformation. Being Inbetween, which portrays girls aged 10 to 12, received wide recognition including a Royal Photographic Society gold medal and a published book. Mendelsohn’s thoughtful, collaborative process allows her subjects to express their individuality and agency, making her portraits powerful and personal.
Beyond her photographic practice, Carolyn is an educator and mentor. She founded Through Our Lens, a creative workshop project launched during the pandemic to help young people tell their stories through photography. As a Nikon Europe Ambassador and the first Royal Photographic Society ambassador, she continues to shape the next generation of visual storytellers with her blend of technical skill, empathy, and creative vision.
In this episode, Carolyn shares her creative journey from acting and filmmaking to becoming a portrait photographer. Carolyn reflects on key projects, including Being In Between, which explores the transitional age of girls between 10 and 12, and Hardy and Free, which delves into women's relationships with landscape and resilience.
A significant focus of the conversation is her powerful collaboration with athlete Heather Fisher. Over three days, including a trip to Paris, Carolyn and Heather worked together to document Heather’s experiences with alopecia, identity, and trauma. The project produced a series of intimate and empowering portraits that helped Heather embrace her identity and resonated deeply with others.
Carolyn also talks about her approach to building trust with her subjects, prioritizing authenticity, collaboration, and emotional connection. She explains how she uses natural light, simple equipment, and often incorporates audio and film to create immersive storytelling experiences. Throughout the podcast, Carolyn highlights how photography has transformed her life—offering creative freedom, connection, and a way to amplify often-overlooked voices.
Throughout the discussion, Carolyn emphasizes how photography transformed her life, providing creative freedom and opportunities for storytelling. The work's impact extends beyond the images themselves, creating lasting connections and meaningful relationships with subjects.
Proud Reflections with Health Fisher
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