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Pleasanton photographer Nina Pomeroy is in the midst of a new portrait and podcast project to capture personal connection in this age of increasing isolation and inauthenticity – “real women, with real stories, in their most honest light”.
“What started as a spark turned into something much bigger — a space that honors women for who they are, not just how they look,” Pomeroy told me about her project, dubbed “Her Words, Her Light”.
“My goal is to have these portraits on exhibit to empower and encourage others to share their stories,” she said. “What has meant the most to me is the honor of witnessing each woman share her vulnerabilities — and being trusted to capture them in a way that feels powerful and unexpected.”
“Her Words, Her Light” leverages Pomeroy’s portraiture skills; her signature style is the black-and-white cinematic photos of clients she captures in her Nina Pomeroy Agency, Inc. studio on First Street in downtown Pleasanton. But the project goes beyond the lens, with subjects invited to share their journey and insight with others via podcast.
“I grew up watching my mother and grandmother — strong, incredible women — but like so many, their stories weren’t always fully seen or documented. That stayed with me,” Pomeroy said. “In my work as a photographer, I began noticing the same thing — women showing up feeling like they had to fit a certain mold instead of being fully themselves.”
“That’s where the idea came from: creating a space where women could be both seen and heard, on their own terms. From there, I decided to pair portraiture with storytelling and inviting women whose stories felt meaningful and honest,” she continued, adding:
“Each session became more than a photoshoot. It was a conversation and a moment of reflection.”
Pomeroy offered the opportunity to specific women she knew, with about a dozen participating in the initial wave in recent months. Their participation fee included the photoshoot, a fine art print of the portrait and a podcast feature still to be recorded.
“When she brought this project to my attention, it immediately moved me,” said Anna Ruotolo, a mortgage adviser and branch manager based in downtown Pleasanton.
“The idea of bringing women into the light to share their stories — and capturing that strength and authenticity through photography — felt really powerful,” Ruotolo added. “Too often women tend to stay in the background or hide parts of their story, and this project creates a beautiful space for them to be seen and heard.”
Ruotolo said she spoke with Pomeroy during the shoot about her experiences as a first-generation American, a Stage 3 breast cancer survivor, a real estate professional, and a mother and wife.
They also talked about what one message Ruotolo would give to other women.
“This is hard,” she told me. “The first thing that comes to mind is advocate for yourself. Know your body and don’t fear speaking up. Set up your support team to help you get through challenges. The second thing that came to my mind is be strong, but sometimes maybe that’s not exactly a perfect message … maybe sometimes we must allow ourselves to be taken care of…”
Dr. Shahira Haidary, a chiropractor with an office on Peters Avenue downtown, was drawn in by knowing Pomeroy and how she worked as an artist behind the lens.
“I naturally don’t like being photographed. I’m not sure of many people who do feel comfortable in front of a camera,” Haidary said. “When I walked in, Nina’s infectious smile calmed my nerves immediately. It was really interesting to observe the way she was able to capture different elements of my story and personality through her lens.”
“She made me feel comfortable. Comfortable enough to be seen, that is,” Haidary added. “And as we took photographs, I found the story of my journey towards becoming the woman I am today pouring out effortlessly.”
Haidary and Pomeroy share the connection of both being transplants to Pleasanton from New York City – Pomeroy was born and raised in Brooklyn; Haidary grew up in Queens, immigrating with her family from Afghanistan at 1 year old.
“On the path towards becoming a chiropractor, healer and educator, there have been so many moments that have impacted the person I am today,” Haidary told me. “I have persevered and overcome many obstacles in life to complete my education, be an example of positivity and inspiration to my daughters and my beloved family members.”
“I’m proud to be a chiropractor and a healer serving the people of Pleasanton,” the doctor said. “I love being a safe space where people come to heal, not just with what physically ills them but to integrate those emotional memories that impact all aspects of one’s health.”
Susan Houghton was inspired by the storytelling aspect of Pomeroy’s project. “Not that my story is all that important to tell, but rather that it was coming at somewhat of an inflection point in my life,” she told me.
“My mom is now deceased, but she did something very similar when she was in her 60s – she had some very nice photos made of her. I cherish them and I am glad she chose to do it,” recalled Houghton, well-known in the Tri-Valley as founder and board president of Sunflower Hill and board director for the Three Valleys Community Foundation.
“It’s easy for women to think that doing something like this might be vain. Or that we don’t look ‘perfect’ enough to have our photo taken. I am usually very critical of how I look in photos – but somehow these photos are different,” she confided. “It’s almost like it is our moment in time. Time that often goes too quickly.”
“The pics did not disappoint,” Houghton added. “I’ve seen many of the photos she’s taken of the other women and I think it is almost like you’re looking into their souls, their histories, their lives. Oh the stories we could all tell!”
Audiences will get to hear them soon, although the final logistics are still in the works. Pomeroy said she’s setting up the interview-recordings to start next month, with the podcast to be available on Apple and Spotify. She is also planning to secure exhibition space to display the portrait prints later this year.
Editor’s note: Jeremy Walsh is the associate publisher and editorial director for the Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. His “What a Week” column is a recurring feature in the Pleasanton Weekly, Livermore Vine and DanvilleSanRamon.com.
