Today we’d like to introduce you to Margit Boyesen.
Margit, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Some say you can’t be present in the moment when you’re behind a camera, but that has not been my experience. I’m a second grade teacher and travel as much as I can in my time off. I really enjoy the photography aspect of being in a new place, especially another country. For me, seeing the world through my lens—be it my iPhone or my DSLR—helps me to slow down, look closely, and notice things I would otherwise have missed. Additionally, carrying a camera and taking photos often leads to conversations with new people along the way.
When I first got my camera ten years ago, I had the opportunity to do volunteer work in Ghana, West Africa. I lived in a little remote village four hours outside of Accra, and though most people in the village didn’t speak English, they did speak ‘camera.’ From kids to old men, everyone wanted their ‘piksha’ captured, and fits of laughter would erupt from the kids when they saw themselves on the little digital screen. Some of the photos I captured in that village so many years ago remain my favorite because of the love and connection I felt there, regardless of language barrier.
More recently, and quite a lot closer to home, I was sitting in a small bar downtown San Diego, and there were three beautiful middle-aged women, laughing, enjoying each other, and just being in the moment. They looked so present, so happy, so alive, and before my mind could stop my words, I approached them, introduced myself, and asked if they’d be interested in a photoshoot. Turns out they were sisters and, yes, they would love a photoshoot! Long story short, that particular shoot never happened for lots of reasons, but it was the start. The seeds were planted for my current photography and storytelling project.
I knew Beautiful We wouldn’t just be about pretty people enjoying life, but would be more purposeful than that. Over the last few years, the divisions in our country have been brought into clearer focus and we are more separated by politics and religion than ever, it seems. Unfortunately, our mainstream media is full of negativity, focusing on lack, division, and finger-pointing. Meanwhile, there are amazing people all around us who dedicate their everyday lives to lifting others, healing suffering, and making the world a better place. Those are the people I want to hear about, share about, and help connect with one another.
Years ago, I was introduced to the idea that life, when distilled, really comes down to either love or fear. I think right now we are all called to ask ourselves how we can act from love, create community, and serve one another. And women especially, we are called to support each other, celebrate each other’s strengths, and foster curiosity rather than competition. This project chooses love, it focuses on good news, and is an attempt at fostering community among like-minded individuals. “We rise by lifting others.” ~ Robert Ingersoll
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s taken quite some time to launch this project. I call it a ‘project’ because it’s my passion rather than a business. At first it was a desire to capture the beauty of everyday people. Not a Hollywood-imposed or cookie-cutter beauty, but inner beauty shining out through authenticity. And as I started photographing friends and reaching out to the amazing people I’d met in the community, I was moved by their journeys and stories, their actions and service. Though they never make the news, many of the people surrounding us in our everyday lives are doing beautiful work to positively impact others in profound ways. So the project really morphed from just taking pictures of amazing people to highlighting the stories that don’t make the news, yet deserve a platform.
After nurturing this idea, I started doing the photoshoots in the spring of last year and just launched my website and social media presence at the start of this year. It feels great to have finally given my vision wings in 2020. Now I’m focusing on growing and spreading this idea.
What should we know about Beautiful We? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Beautiful We features amazing people who are using their time, talent, and heart to make a positive impact on the world. Each week, a new person is featured on the website and on social media. Beautiful We uses only natural light to shoot the photos and focuses on real people, their inner beauty radiating out rather than creating highly stylized or photoshopped pictures.
The intent and vision of the project is to shine a light on the We; the stories of people who are lifting others, creating beautiful, positive change across a variety of platforms such as health and wellness, environment, education, foster care and adoption, and social justice. The vision of Beautiful We is to create a community of people who want to be fueled and inspired by others, who want to be elevated by the good happening around them, and who want to connect.
If you know of someone who is doing amazing things and you think their contribution would be perfect for Beautiful We, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Beautiful We continues to grow organically, thanks to referrals and recommendations.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
We live in a time where the world needs each of us to be who we were uniquely made to be, to trust ourselves and what we want to create in the world. Trusting the process has been my main lesson on this journey, allowing the ideas that bubble up from within to be cultivated without self-imposing the pressures of “it’s taking too long,” even though friends close to me will tell you that this idea has been on my heart for quite some time.
If you have a passion, something you want to create, think, journal, and listen—listen to the still, small, voice inside that says “go ahead.” Then listen to those you trust and hear their sage advice; take action, however slowly or quickly that might unfold for you. In the end, stay true to what you want to create and contribute your own unique brilliance in a way that honors your vision.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beautiful-we.com
- Email: info@beautiful-we.com
- Instagram: @beautiful_we_project
- Facebook: @BeautifulWeProject
Image Credit:
Margit Boyesen
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