Pretty, Please

• Photographer
  Andi Schreiber, United States
• Studio
  none

These photographs, from the ongoing series Pretty, Please, are begging you to look.
Envelop me with your eyes and do not let go.
When I was in my thirties I heard the expression "Invisible Forties." I couldn't imagine
how sexually inconsequential I’d feel throughout this decade.

I long to exist for pleasure – yours and my own.

This series is interwoven with my domestic existence. Life changes a person with time. I’m
a devoted partner, scheduler, consumer and constant caretaker. Despite this expansive
growth, something has dimmed. The need for pleasure is no longer a priority.

We live in a world that tells us that sexuality should be spontaneous and natural. It
takes no effort for to be numb but having an exhilarating existence is another matter.

Midlife is like a second adolescence filled with feelings of uncertainty regarding
sexuality. Our hearts may be deeply connected to a long-term partner but our bodies get
bored. Turning the camera on myself has allowed me to take stock as a chapter closes.

I want to remain vibrant. I want my body to be useful. Disappearing is not an option.