Local photographer captures legacy with portrait series for seniors

An Edmonton photographer is giving seniors a chance to channel their inner model with just the click of a button. CTV Edmonton's Nahreman Issa has the story.

A local photographer is celebrating seniors and their stories through a specialized series of captured moments.

Magdalena Barry of Mag Barry Photography has set out to record seniors’ personalities and their stories through her project Timeless Tales by Mag.

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“I celebrate vibrant seniors over the age of 80. I feel that they have a lot to say,” Barry told CTV News Edmonton last week. “The (people) that I photograph have a passion.”

She said she sits down with her subjects two or three times to open up about their interests and experiences in life before bringing them to her studio for their photoshoot.

“I really like to capture who they are because most times they think, ‘Well, why do you want to take a picture of me? I just paint or I just play tennis,’ …. They need to know that they are 89 years old and still playing tennis or they’re 91 still running their businesses,” she said.

Barry said the photoshoot is catered to each senior and they sometimes come with their outfits and props already picked out.

“I had a tennis player here last week. She brought a hundred tennis balls, her tennis bag, her tennis racket, and her tennis outfit because she said, ‘I am not dressing up and I never wear makeup.’ I said, ‘Perfect,’ and she was in her element,” Barry said.

One of Barry’s subjects, Del Dilkie, a 95-year-old fashionista, thought she didn’t fit the bill as she believed she wasn’t “a very glamorous person.”

“I don’t know how good I am, but I’m really enjoying it,” said Del during her photoshoot. “She’s such a perfectionist, and her and I really get along.”

Dilkie, who once owned a consignment store downtown for 31 years called Del’s on Ninth, arrived at the photoshoot all dolled up sporting sequin pants, a black sweater and a smile for the cameras.

“I can’t believe she even wants me, and I like doing it. I hope I’m doing it okay for her,” Dilkie said.

Barry said leaving a legacy for people’s loved ones is easy when you have subjects like Del.

“Del is a natural … She’s constantly complimenting people and I truly believe that’s what I learned about seniors too,” Barry said.

“It’s her attitude that brings her longevity, and that’s what I want to tell the world too. Look at this lady. She’s connected. She’s got this wonderful personality, and so people want to be around her.

“I’ve had clients come in a little bit stiff, even though they’ve known me for quite a while now. Then they start doing the Vogue poses, because they realize this is fun … I really want to do more of that. I love making seniors happy.”

To view Barry’s portfolio or to book a photography session, visit her website or her social media page.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nahreman Issa