Debra Hayes

The Beauty of Reality

I want my photos to tell a story...a story that is portrayed with realism, genuine emotion and unfiltered images of appearance and age. The beauty of life comes from connecting through shared feelings of pain, loss, sadness, hope...the real emotions of life that seem to be forgotten and hidden in today's world of social media filters and the very scary need to portray oneself as perfect. The reality of life - aging, wrinkles, highs, lows, failing, succeeding, wanting more - is where true beauty lies.

My photography career started in 2018, which like many phases of my life, is probably late compared to those who knew exactly what they wanted to do since birth. It wasn't that I didn't know - I have always been an artist of sorts, from drawing to music, but my path in life took many twists and turns. My creativity sprung from a mixture of experience, that would have not been existent or influential early on. The many years I spent modeling greatly shaped the way I view beauty and the relentless standards placed on women, which is why I gravitate toward photographing women forty and over. The trauma and pain I've encountered throughout life and relationships caused a voracious, soulful need to create images that...

* Self-taught Photographer
* BS - Biochemisty
* MS - Health Information Management and Technology

Photo Awards:

• International Photography Awards (IPA) 2023: Honorable Mention
• Annual Photography Awards (APA) 2023: Honorable Mention
• Annual Photography Awards (APA) 2021: Honorable Mention
• Annual Photography Awards (APA) 2021: Honorable Mention
• Annual Photography Awards (APA) 2021: Honorable Mention