Image credit to Josh Smith.
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – For Susanna Tanner, photography is about creating a space where people feel safe enough to be themselves.
Tanner owns Susanna Tanner Photography in Richmond, located off Straightline Pike.
While working behind the camera for more than 20 years, Tanner said photographing people has become more than just taking photos; it’s a transformative journey of self.
“I think when anybody comes here, what I want them to know is that it’s a safe place. There have been all kinds of emotions expressed here, and I want people to realize that it’s OK for that to happen here,” she said.
She aims to create an environment where clients feel comfortable enough to let deeper emotions surface.
“Maybe allowing for that to happen is what helps give images a more soulful feel,” she added. “It’s really more about whatever is on the inside being allowed to show.”
Image credit to Mark Brim.
From Television to Portraiture
While Tanner spent several years in photography, it was not where her career originally began. When it came time to declare a college major, she chose television, focused on working behind the camera. She eventually made her way back to Richmond and decided to change the way she captured stories.
“I really just switched cameras,” Tanner said. “A lot of the principles are the same, but I just switched the kind of camera and started photographing people. I guess it’s always been about people.”
While working other full-time jobs, Tanner mainly focused on wedding photography. In 2020, she decided to shift her photography style to portraiture and working with people one-on-one, at a slower pace.
50 Over 50
The focus on people led Tanner to open her own photography studio, where she offers a range of experiences from magazine style portraits to headshots and branding, and personalized sessions.
Her studio work has since evolved into a project she calls 50 Over 50, which centers on photographing women over 50 and sharing their stories and words of wisdom with younger generations. In 2023, the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce honored Tanner with the Champion of Diversity Award for 50 Over 50 Vol. 1.
Tanner said the project began as a way to raise her voice against the injustices she felt as a woman in her 50s.
“It really started as a way of me raising my voice against some of the injustices that I was feeling as a woman in her 50s and starting to understand how it felt to be in an age group where you were starting to become more invisible. I know how I felt about myself and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. I wanted other women to find that voice and to give them an outlet to say just because I’m over 40 doesn’t mean I’m done. It doesn’t mean that I’m not still beautiful. I still have things to contribute to my community and to the world.”
What started as a way to celebrate physical transformation, with professional hair and makeup and a full photoshoot, quickly shifted into storytelling.
During consultations, women shared the personal reasons behind booking a session. Often, their reasons included overcoming major life changes or wisdom they wished they’d had earlier in life.
Tanner realized these stories needed a platform.
“That just kind of shifted into along with a photoshoot, let’s give people a platform to tell their story or a part of their story,” she said.
When women worry they don’t have a story, Tanner reassures them that everyone does. It’s simply a matter of identifying what part of their life could impact someone else.
“We have women in the group who have gone through cancer, loss of a body part, loss of a person, some major change. Maybe they lost their community,” Tanner said. “It is a lot of loss, but loss is change. How did that person deal with change?”
Image credit to Christina Mavity.
50 Over 50 Vol.1 is available on Tanner’s website, where portaits and audio interviews are available. The audio interviews were concluded in partnership with Kate Jetmore, who collaborated on the project.
Vol. 2 is currently underway, with no set completion date. Tanner keeps the project open until she feels it is complete. Once finished, she plans to turn the series into a book.
Participation is open to anyone interested, there is no selection process.
“It’s a way to be a part of your legacy,” Tanner said. “To share your story and your images, but to also pass on how you were able to overcome something. What useful advice do you have for somebody else?”
Inside the Studio
Tanner said portrait photography goes beyond technical skill. It requires trust.
“Having an artistic eye certainly helps but putting people at ease and making them feel comfortable while you’re putting a lens in front of their face is probably one of the biggest things I’ve learned over time,” she said.
Before any session, Tanner meets with clients to understand expectations and the deeper reason behind wanting photographs. Lighting plays a central role in her creative process, but she also leaves room for creativity and spontaneity.
“I’ve learned over the years that you allow for that space for the unknown to happen,” she said, “because ultimately, you’re going to get something even better than what you had imagined.”
One of her ongoing challenges is helping people recognize the value of professional photography in a digital age, and helping them look beyond small insecurities.
“How do you help people see beyond that and see the whole picture?” she said. “I feel like one of my jobs is to share what I see.”
She understands the vulnerability involved, both for her clients and for herself.
“I invite people to come back to look at their photographs and that’s really tough. I feel very vulnerable because they could totally reject my work. I want them to like how they look. I want them to be happy and have a positive experience.”
Photography as a Lifelong Connection
Tanner said her connection to photography began early in her childhood. Her father was a hobbyist photographer, and family slideshows were common when guests visited.
“In third grade, I was on vacation with my parents and we went to this amazing kid pool, and I had a squirt gun that looked like a camera,” she said. “I walked around and asked people if I could take their pictures and then they would get squirted. It’s just been on ever since.”
Her advice to aspiring photographers is to practice consistently and invest in learning the business side of the work.
“Be discriminating with yourself,” she said. “Look back at your pictures and study your exposures and see how you can improve. If you’re going to run a business, you need to get business education.”
Image credit to Aaron J. Young.
When it comes to growth, Tanner finds meaning in the space she’s evolved into and the community she has created through her work.
“I feel much more comfortable spending time with people where the emotions run a little deeper. I feel honored when somebody allows for that to happen,” she said. “That’s not a place I would have been comfortable with when I was 25.”
“I’ve gotten to know so many women. So many women that trust me and I have full trust in them. It’s become a little community of its own, which I’m really proud of.”
