Meet Abby Moskowitz

I was an anthropology major at UCLA, but I always loved photography and worked at the school paper. After school I moved to New York City and became a photo editor at several magazines. I really liked the creative aspect of the job. Seeing the story come to life because I hired the right photographer and got the right location was a great feeling. What I really wanted to do, though, was to be that photographer.

Once I started to have kids, I left my job to stay home. That gave me the time to shoot more and I did a few freelance jobs over the years, but the kids needed me more. Three kids and 15 years later I’m ready to get back into doing what I have always wanted to do — be a working photographer.

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——The Women’s Series—— 3. You were getting ready to take your son to jujitsu but his breathing seemed labored. What happened and how often does it affect his and your day? – “It was nuts. Out of nowhere he had a little asthma attack. Michael has a tree nut allergy and asthma. If he doesn’t outgrow it, I will be forcing him to live with me forever 😉 Today’s attack came out of nowhere. Typically it’s triggered by him over exerting himself or the weather. It’s scary. As a parent, you’re never not worried. I worry about him at school overdoing it in the schoolyard or someone sharing a snack that he shouldn’t be eating. He’s really great about it, always reads labels if he’s not with me to see what he can eat but that’s a lot of pressure for a 9 year old. Last year in school there were kids wiping peanut butter on kids that had an allergy. As a joke! My heart stopped when the nurse called. It takes more planning, for sure, but we try to not make it limiting. We carry an epipen and his inhaler. We send him with a nut free cupcake to birthday parties and have conversations about how important it is not to eat anything he isn’t allowed to have. My fear isn’t so much now because we can control it. I’m worried about him being a teenager and not being as careful, or being an adult and not reading a label. Basically, I’ll be worried for the rest of my life!” – – Abby @abbypalanca, mama, eternal optimist, questionable speller, insane multitasker, entrepreneur, real-estate broker, Brooklyn lover to the core. ————————— . . #abbymoskowitzwomenseries #streetphotography #bnw_greatshots #photooftheday #bnwlife #bnw_ilike #photographyislife #spicollective #wonderful_urban #big_shotz_bw #gramvisions #womenstreetphotographers #streetgrammers #gottolove_bnw #noir_shots #documentaryphotography #_womenofsubstance #realestatelife #momslife #documentingwomen #holdthatmoment #documentaryphotos #documentarystyle #documentaryphotography #documentaryproject #documentaryphotograph #dfpcommunity #holdthatmoment

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Tell us about the inspiration for your project, The Women’s Series.

My kids were finally at an age (8, 12, and 15) where they were more independent and needed me less. My husband was also going on sabbatical for the year, which meant he could pick up some of the slack if I started shooting more. So I gave myself a year long project. I was at the gym mindlessly running on a treadmill when the question came to me. What do all these women around me do? I see them out and about but what did they do the rest of the time? I decided to find out. I sent an email to 20 women and 11 said yes. Some of these women I knew and some I only knew of, but they were all interesting to me and they are all moms. I wanted to know everything they did on a daily basis to keep not only their lives in working order, but everyone else’s lives that relied on them. Women do a million things that often go unnoticed not only by their kids or partners, but by the women themselves, too!

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—— The Women’s Series—— You’re helping your kids with their math homework. Do you enjoy doing homework with them? – “For me, doing homework is a chore. I don't love it. Most days we get through it together fairly successfully, but I’m thankfully off the hook on Thursdays when our tutor comes. I do enjoy being part of the kids daily after school life though. We bang homework out as soon as they get home so we can focus on more fun things, like guitar lessons, jujitsui or play dates!” – – Jen, @sheissilva, singer-songwriter, bandleader, mom of 2 daughters, vintage shopper, occult enthusiast and former catholic school girl. —————————— . #abbymoskowitzwomenseries #bnw_city #streetphotography #bnw_greatshots #photooftheday #bnwlife #bnw_ilike #bnw_life #streetphotographerscommunity #thestreetphotographyhub #streets_vision #urbanphotography #photographyislife #streetphotographychannel #spicollective #wonderful_urban #big_shotz_bw #bnw_switzerland #gramvisions #womenstreetphotographers #streetgrammers #gottolove_bnw #streets_storytelling #noir_shots #documentaryphotography #_womenofsubstance #singersongwriter #momslife #documentingwomen #dfpcommunity

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You’re capturing these women doing REAL life things, like folding laundry or cooking dinner, tending to sick kids, working, helping with homework, parenting, going back to school, celebrating with others. One woman is going through a divorce. Another had a hysterectomy. Why was it important to you to share these images?

I think it’s important to see their lives not just read about them. You can see and feel their emotions and know that yeah, it’s ok to feel that way and I’m not the only one. There is power in photography. We should celebrate everything that women do for others, but also shine a light to let people know the breadth of it, and sometimes the weight of it, too.

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——-The Women’s Series——— 4. You went in for the hysterectomy at 1, but your surgery was delayed for hours. How did you feel? – “My best friend Sheena came with me, she was a blessing that day. When they told me the surgery was delayed I wanted to cancel. I felt hungry and tired. My kids were home with their dad and my oldest was at home waiting for me. I finally went in at 6:30pm” – @everythingaria – Donna @donnajwalrond, mom, boss, entrepreneur, go-getter, kind, and bitch with a huge heart! ————————— . . #abbymoskowitzwomenseries #bnw_city #bnw_greatshots #photooftheday #bnwlife #bnw_life #streetphotographerscommunity #urbanphotography #entrepreneurlife #photographyislife #spicollective #gf_bnw #wonderful_urban #big_shotz_bw #gramvisions #womenstreetphotographers #momslife #gottolove_bnw #bnw_instg #streets_storytelling #documentaryphotography #_womenofsubstance #documentaryphotographer #documentingwomen #documentaryproject #documentarylover #documentarynow

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I find myself pausing at many of the images, either relating to or feeling for the women in some way — happy or sad, if they seem sad, sometimes tired. What have you learned from the project so far?

I realized that I relate to many of these women’s stories. It’s so refreshing to know you are not alone in your anxiety, or frustration, or love. We can really lift each other up by sharing our stories. So many people have stopped me in the neighborhood to say how they were affected by one of the stories and how they could relate to them. They relate to the mom that is critical of her appearance, or the mom that’s divorced and found love again which gave them hope that they too could find happiness, or all the women that work hard to stay healthy even if they don’t have the time.

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——-The Women’s Series——- How hard is it to have an almost teenage daughter? – “My almost teenage daughter is only 12 but going on 16…need I say more….eye rolls, moody mornings, testing boundaries, wearing make up, being bullied by boys… and girls, lots of homework, lots of activities, very funny, intelligent humor. She is a fashionista, and def a cool kid….. It’s not easy to be her age and in this competitive fast paced world of theirs where apps like instagram and Snapchat take over their world… it’s hard work for a kid and for a parent to navigate this in a heathy way. So even though I want to protect her… I know I can’t always… Instead I make sure she stays confident in herself, fierce, happy, knows her boundaries…. and is able to get back up when she hits a low… It’s a very emotional time in their lives. So I remind her of things that really matter when she is in panic mode or anxious or emotional …I try and help her to stay grounded, doing reiki on her helps and she loves it… She def tests my patience every now and again… and a beautiful sweet soul most days…I’m lucky and I love watching her grow!” – – Priya @ppbrooklyn, Indian, born and raised in Kenya, mother of 3, Architect, Reiki Healer, Spiritual Warrior, Design freak, World traveler. ———————— . #abbymoskowitzwomenseries #bnw_city #bnw_greatshots #photooftheday #bnw_ilike #bnw_life #photographyislife #big_shotz_bw #bnw_inst #gramvisions #womenstreetphotographers #gottolove_bnw #streets_storytelling #documentaryphotography #_womenofsubstance #architectlife #momslife #documentingwomen #documentarystyle #documentaryproject #documentaryseries #documentarylover #documentaryphotos #dfpcommunity

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This is your personal returnship of sorts. What’s next?

Yes, it is. This is my year to really jump back in and do something for me. I still want to be here for my kids after school but I want to keep shooting and trying new things. What I’m really hoping is to have a show and a book to showcase The Women’s Series with more in-depth stories and more photographs. Along the way I am picking up freelance work and building a book of business that will only grow from here, bringing me closer to my goal of becoming a working photographer.

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——The Women’s Series——- 2. You are a student studying to be a surgical tech. What is that and why did you choose it? – “Surgical technologists are experts in the theory and application of the principles of asepsis and sterile technique. They are responsible for assembling and maintaining the sterile field in the operating room, as well as assisting the surgeon in actual procedures by knowing what, when and how to pass the instruments needed. I’ve always been fascinated with operating rooms and curious about the behind the scenes activity of ORs. I think it’s an incredibly exciting atmosphere. I find blood and guts and the human body endlessly amazing. Also, the idea of being a member of a surgical team and helping people is very appealing to me. And anesthetized patients are my kind of patients! Ha!” – – Stacey, @elegant_dirtbag, mamina to 3, surge tech student, coffee enthusiast, extreme napper, music lover, gym rat, reformed feral human. ———————————— . . #abbymoskowitzwomenseries #bnw_city #bnw_greatshots #photooftheday #bnw_ilike #bnw_life #photographyislife #big_shotz_bw #bnw_inst #gramvisions #womenstreetphotographers #gottolove_bnw #streets_storytelling #documentaryphotography #_womenofsubstance #studentlife #momslife #documentingwomen #documentarystyle #documentaryproject #documentaryseries #documentarylover #documentaryphotos #lensculturediscovery #aspfeatures #holdthatmoment #thesovereignphotographerblog

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