INTRODUCTION AND F.A.Q.
FOR PARTICIPANTS OF
WOMEN OF CRESTED BUTTE
A photograph freezes time. It provides a snapshot of a life lived until that moment. When you look back at old photos, you’re actually looking back in time, into a moment in someone’s life. If you look closely enough at the image you’re holding in your hand, you’re guaranteed to learn something about the person you see before you; about who she was and how she lived. It’s all there in plain black and white. You may even feel that person, and in this way come to know a piece of her. This is the power of a photograph.
It is with this introduction that I welcome you to the Women of Crested Butte Project and thank you for your interest in participating! We are embarking together on a creative journey that presents you with the opportunity to create a Legacy Portrait. Your Legacy Image will capture you in time, as you are now, in all of your glory on this, our mighty earth in a place that you love so very dearly. How you choose to be portrayed is entirely up to you.
As you set out on this journey, I would encourage you to remember the ‘great why’ behind the creation of your image. My 'why' is that, 100 years from now and further forward, I want future generations living in this valley and beyond to be able to look back in time and peer into a moment from your life. They will look into your eyes and see you and feel you, and in this way come to know you and your grand contribution to this place—and in turn to them. It's up to you to choose what your ‘why' is, and I offer all that follows below to further that end. Thank you again for choosing to be a part of the project.
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Your session will provide you with the opportunity to express yourself in a fun and safe creative environment that will likely warrant some of the most impactful images you’ve ever participated in creating of yourself. I would ask you to imagine yourself and this shoot in the most creative manner possible. Please read the FAQs below, then click through to both the Creative Consent Form and the Model Release Form at the bottom of the page and complete each with your digital signature and initials. This is a requirement for participation in the project. I want to be sure that you understand your responsibilities and what is expected of both of us when working together so that we can create the best art possible. I would also like you to understand the full range of what is possible with the creation of your shoot. Both forms linked to below are password protected, so If you’ve landed on this page prior to receiving your follow up e-mail that includes the passwords, please e-mail me for them.
My aim is to create a single lasting image that represents you in the way that you’d like to be remembered by the people of this valley and your loved ones long after you and I are gone from this earth. An image that embodies YOU as completely as possible. In order to get there, I’m going to ask that you participate 110 percent. That participation begins with your visioning process for how you’d like to be portrayed. The images that we’ll be creating are for you more than they’re for anyone else and you will get out of them what you put into them. If you’re not excited to do this, there is no obligation to take part-- no hard feelings whatsoever.
You are more than welcome to go into this shoot as simply a means to create a beautiful image of yourself in a place that is dear to you and perhaps surrounded by some favorite items that represent things you love dearly. These may be a pair of skis or a bike, or members of your family and this would be perfect in and of itself. For those interested in something more, I would like to suggest the possibility of adding the depth of your intention as well as a bit of your own personal magic to your shoot, however you connect with these things. You can read more about bringing this type of depth to your shoot in the Creative Consent Form that’s linked to below. I am happy to support you at whatever level you’d like to approach this experience at, and most importantly, that is right for you. Whichever way you choose to go about this process however, I encourage you to bring as much intentionality to your shoot as possible.
The key to a successful session is building connection and trust. The more we’re able to establish, the more powerful the imagery we’ll be able to create together— and the more fun we’ll have working together. I’ve outlined expectations for behavior and communication in the Creative Consent Form. You may feel most comfortable bringing a trusted companion to your session with you. Chaperones are welcome but by no means required. One or more female photo assistants may also be joining us for your shoot. These may be one of my two collaborators named below, project intern Tomah Whitney, a project participant, or another woman altogether. No men will be working on your shoot with us aside from me, except in the rare instance of outside media wishing to come in and do a story or capture of some kind during one of the shoots, in which case I will ask your permission first and you will be free to choose if you welcome this experience or not.
I am very excited to be collaborating on this project with Shannon Mujica and Kt Joy Folz. Kt provided me with the seed idea for the project and is acting as a co-producer in several capacities. She also happens to be my best friend. Shannon has been collecting interviews with remarkable women of influence in Crested Butte since 2020. She was one of the first women I consulted about Women of CB, and she and I concluded in the spring of 2021 that we were working on different aspects of the same project (Shannon with words and me with photography). We have decided to tell the stories of the same 100 women, creating together something larger and more complete than either of us would have produced alone.
Thank you and I look forward to working and creating with you!
—Merrick
F.A.Q. - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR / BRING WITH ME TO MY SESSION?
Show up as yourself and how you’d like to be portrayed. I’m going to tell the best story of you that I can in the time we have together. Bring those items— clothing, jewelry, accessories, and props of any kind, large or small— that will enable you to create the image of yourself that you’d like to remain in this valley when you’re gone. I don’t know that person but you certainly do. That might mean that you bring a trunk full of costumes and makeup, your ski or yoga gear, a ball gown and a fur coat, or a plain black t-shirt, tribal paint, and your favorite armchair. The choice is entirely yours.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH ALL OF THE IMAGES AND VIDEO THAT WE SHOOT?
Shannon and I will produce a coffee table art book together from the photographs and interviews that we’re creating/conducting. She and I may also produce an exhibition(s) together and I may produce series of prints as well as an independent exhibition(s). A portion of my proceeds from all book sales, exhibitions as well as print sales will be donated to High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA) and the Crested Butte Museum. Shannon plans to donate a portion of her proceeds from book sales to Crested Butte State of Mind. Images (including outtake images not seen in your proofs as well as behind-the-scenes images), Behind the scenes video content may be featured eventually on dedicated social media accounts for the project; select images and videos may appear on The Humans Being Project’s website and social media pages, my personal social media pages and my Backcountry Photo CB and Merrick Chase Photography websites. Video content may also be produced into a documentary, short film, or series of shorts about the project.
HOW LONG WILL MY SESSION TAKE?
Depending on the location you choose and the complexity of your shoot, you can expect to spend between an hour or two on your shoot. These times allow for setup and various adjustments to lighting gear, rigging and other equipment. They also take into consideration multiple setups at the same location and downtime when we won’t be shooting during such adjustments. Know that I value your time (and mine) and that I will work as efficiently as possible to maximize our time together.
WHEN WILL I GET TO SEE THE IMAGES FROM MY SESSION AND WILL I GET TO KEEP THE IMAGES?
You will be emailed a selection of proofs from your session, typically between 4 and 8 images. It may take as long as six to eight months (and sometimes longer) to receive your proofs and you will be gifted your 3 favorite images from your session as high-resolution digital JPEG files. Your image files will include a license for unlimited personal and professional use in perpetuity (outside of licensing to third parties or receiving any payment for their use by third parties). Once you have received your proofs, email me your selections, and I have informed you that I have received them, it may take up to a year or longer to receive your finished images.
WHAT IF I FEEL SHY IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA OR AWKWARD BEING PHOTOGRAPHED?
If that is the case, then you are like most people, and I’d simply ask you to trust in my experience photographing thousands of people over many years. We’ll get through the awkward feelings together— a lot quicker than you might think. It’s going to be a lot of fun actually, like playing dress up when you were a kid or getting outfitted for a backcountry adventure. Nothing to be afraid of.
WHY ARE YOU CREATING THIS PROJECT?
Crested Butte has given me a tremendous amount over the years. This project is a way for me to give some of that back and to say ‘thank you’ for all the support that I’ve received from this incredible community, particularly as a single parent raising a young boy here in the mid 2000’s. Additionally, I feel that it’s important at this time that we start taking direction from strong feminine voices, both in this valley and elsewhere. History has recognized men almost exclusively and done its best to exclude women. Our centuries-long embodiment of an aggressive masculine version of progress in the forms of imperialism, colonialism and industrialization has done an excellent job of delivering our world to the brink of collapse. It's time for something different, something sane and life-affirming. Raising up remarkable women who have shown up for our community feels right and good. Finally, I love people and their stories and the intimacy of getting to know someone during a photo session. Our true selves come out on both sides of the camera, and I find it to be a powerful experience of sharing and discovery.
WHY DO I NEED TO SIGN A MODEL RELEASE FORM?
I ask my subjects to sign a model release form so that I can use the images however I see fit. I’m investing a lot of time to photograph you and pour my creativity into what we’ll create together. You’ll receive the results of that time in the form of 3 high-res digital images, as well as seeing the project itself come to life.
MAY I SEE SOME OF THE IMAGES THAT YOU’VE CREATED FOR THE PROJECT SO FAR?
Absolutely! You’re welcome to have a look at some behind-the-scenes and outtake shots. Click here to visit the Women of Crested Butte Behind the Scenes Gallery.