Rising Stars: Meet Robin Salcido

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Salcido.

Hi Robin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been drawn to creative endeavors which were not particularly valued when I was younger. Watercolor, pastels, ceramics, photography, and especially writing. I finally took the leap to a full-time creative life in 2020 just before Covid shut down the world. Today I am primarily a project photographer.

My work subjects are men and women over the age of 50. I work to capture their personal story through photography and interviews. I feel I am finally doing what I was meant to be doing and though I waited a long time to really attend to this side of myself, I think all my past ‘lives’ have contributed to where I am today.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course, there is no smooth road! I don’t believe there is a smooth road to any creativity! There is the matter of people who want what you have to offer, but balk at actually paying you a living wage in return. I’ve had that struggle in my work today and during my prior business where I provided retail merchandising consulting (product placement work that was educational and hands-on). I’ve also experienced the offer to write for ‘exposure’ more often than I care to note. Today, I have the ability to only work with women and men who value my work and turn away those that do not.

My path has been anything but linear. At first, that worried me, but now that I am past 60, I can see how all I’ve accomplished in my past helps guide me today. I trust myself now.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Men and women over the age of 50 have much to share and say, but in a culture that does not celebrate getting older, it can be hard to see and hear them. The Wise Women and Magnificent Men projects were developed to explore these community members and share a few of their stories as I work to revise ageist perspectives.

Through intimate and vulnerable photographs alongside interviews, I have been studying this demographic since 2019.

What I found in my exploration and studies is that ageism is often a matter of how we view ourselves.

My goal with this work is to shine a mirror upon my subjects and to explore beyond those boundaries that are not reflective of who they truly are whatever age they might be.

I have interviewed and photographed men and women over 50 from the age of 51 to over 75. Curiosity drove me and I was rewarded with inspiration, renewed personal courage, and community. I believe my work empowers our older community members as well as hopefully energizes and educates our youth on the value of an intergenerational society.

I pay attention. I do my best, to tell the truth. I care deeply about my subjects. I suppose this is what sets me apart from other photographers.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was the kid who always had her head in a book and most enjoyed playing alone. Creating pretend towns was a favorite. I made my own paper dolls.

I was always drawn to art and words. My desire to be a writer was intense, as was my love of art. I was and am an introverted person who enjoys a great time alone in my imagination.

There was another side of me as I grew older. In high school, I became quite social and most loved time with my girlfriends where we would talk about who we loved at the moment, went to parties together, and had sleepovers. My gang of girlfriends from those years was something that anchored me. I suppose I was popular, but that was primarily because I was open to being friends with anyone and especially liked meeting people who were different.

As a junior in high school preparing to apply to colleges, I received a setback that would take most of my life to recover from. My guidance counselor said, in response to my sharing that I wanted to be an English teacher and writer, “Well only the best of the best make it as writers and there is a glut of English teachers.” My balloon burst, because what I heard was that I would never be good enough, so why bother?

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ourstoriestoday, www.resphotography.com
• Instagram: @womenwordswisdom

Image Credits
Robin Enright Salcido