Hi, I'm Jo and I'd love to welcome you to The Midlife Movement!

I am married to Neil, an awesome Structural Engineer, and we have 4 grown up children and (almost) 7 grandchildren who keep me in a constant state of both worry and  joy.

I work as a Portrait and Personal/Business Branding Photographer. Although I am based in the beautiful heart of England, I travel all over the world in search of interesting people to photograph and interview. Yet I became a Professional Photographer, quite by accident at 50!

I am working on a video on my story and will link to it here as soon as it is ready.

In the meantime, please feel free to visit my Portrait Site, Jo Blackwell Photography  and my Writer's Blog, the Inspiration Station.

I think it's crazy that we have the (cultural?) expectation that we should "wind down" as we get older. Yes, our joints might start to creak, our eyes might need a little help, our skin might begin to "sprinkle" (as my grandson describes it), but what is that, really, when set against what we have to offer? Heaven knows, the world needs our time, experience, love and - dare I say it - wisdom.

Having gone through this journey of transformation, I want to turn back and hold out my hand to the women who are a few years behind me and say, "It's ok. You're ok. You might feel that there are doors closing, but, I promise, there are so many more opening ahead of you. You might be feeling  a little lost right now, but you are not alone." 

I hope you’ll join me as I hurtle towards my next big birthday. Though I am less fearful than I was, I only manage fabulous every now and then. I’m a work in progress, just like you, let’s enjoy the ride together!
Love Jo x

Picture: one of the little lights of my life, Mia <3