4 Sisters Photographed Every Year for 40 Years

1975

I recently read this story about 4 sisters who took a photo of them every five years for 40 years.
I wanted to learn more about it and I found out my first source wasn’t right. These four ladies are the Brown sisters and they’ve had their photos taken every single year. The photographer is Nicholas Nixon and is the husband of Bebe, who is posing with her sisters Heather, Mimi and Laurie.

When he took the first photo in 1975 Heather was 23, Mimi was 15, Bebe was 25 and Laurie 21 from left to right. The four sisters always pose in the same order.
Actually, the first photo was taken in 1974 prior to this photo series, but Nixon didn’t keep that photo. In 1975 he took another portrait of the Brown sisters and the following year the artist suggested to them to take their photo every year.

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

Every photo has its grace and depicts the feeling of each woman. I like the fact that you don’t see only smiling faces. They show anger, sadness, compassion.
https://www.beautyandthemist.com/

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

Although we know nothing about the four sisters, the pictures can reveal a lot.
Personally I get the feeling that in some photos one of the women becomes the subject of interest. For example, in 1993 Mimi must be pregnant and her sister Heather is touching her belly in a tender way. In 2001 it looks like Laurie is the one to receive love from the other three. I noticed that in 2002 they are wearing black and you can see sorrow on their faces.

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

Every picture can tell a story. What about 40 pictures?

A whole life before our eyes.

It’s remarkable how their bond is that strong after so long.

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

We can see how time flies within an image and what 12 months can mean. This whole idea may inspire us to do the same thing with our siblings, parents, kids. But it is kinda scary. What if the portrait shortens? What if instead of four there are three? But that’s life and photos depict our lives.