The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own. I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before. In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find. Please DO NOT send me your work. I do not take submissions.
Today’s featured artist: Megumi Bacher
THE ART OF IN-BETWEEN
PORTRAITS OF BICULTURAL KIDS AND THEIR IDENTITIES
A Celebration of Children with Japanese-American Roots
In The Art of In-Between, I explore the evolving meanings of cultural identity through the eyes of Japanese-American children. At the heart of this series is the kimono—a garment that once served as everyday attire in Japan and has since become a symbol of ceremony and tradition. Today, it is worn to mark significant milestones such as Shichi-Go-San (ages of 7-5-3 celebration), Seijinshiki (Coming of Age Day), graduations, and weddings. Beyond its beauty and formality, the kimono now carries a deeper meaning: an intentional act of cultural pride, belonging, and remembrance.
As a Japanese immigrant and photographer based in the U.S., I see these garments not only as expressions of heritage but as living visual narratives—threads that connect generations, carry unspoken stories, and shift with the people who wear them. For those of us living between cultures, tradition is not something fixed; it is fluid, responsive, and continually reimagined.
This photo series reinterprets the kimono through a bicultural lens. Rather than presenting it as a restrained or static artifact, I invite Japanese-American children to wear it as themselves—encouraging them to move, play, and express their quirks and uniqueness freely. Each portrait reflects more than heritage—it captures the individuality, curiosity, joy, and vulnerability of each child. It celebrates how culture and self-expression can not only coexist but enrich one another.
At its core, The Art of In-Between is a celebration of children growing up across cultural lines—not in conflict, but in conversation. It honors their lived experiences and identities as both fully Japanese and fully American, without asking them to choose These portraits offer a space where representation, strength, softness, and cultural nuance can exist together
This work speaks to the emotional truth of the in-between—how identity is layered, how tradition lives and breathes, and how children, when seen and supported, become powerful carriers of culture in motion. My goal is to share a vision of heritage that is not preserved in stillness, but shaped with intention, joy, and playfulness. Through these portraits, I hope to contribute to a living tradition—one that evolves across generations, and one that children feel welcomed and empowered to carry forward as their own
To see more of this project, click here
Suzanne Sease is a creative consultant and former ad-agency senior art buyer. She works with both emerging and established photographers and illustrators to create cohesive, persuasive presentations that clients can’t resist.
Suzanne offers something rare: an insider’s perspective on how client’s source creative talent. Her deep understanding of the industry is underscored by her impressive resume: 11 years as senior art buyer at The Martin Agency, seven years as an art producer for Capital One, and stints with the art-buying department at Kaplan-Thaler and the creative department at Best Buy, where she applied her expertise to reviewing bids to see which were most likely to come in on budget. Over the years, Suzanne has worked with a wildly diverse range of clients, including Seiko, Wrangler, Bank One, AFLAC, and Clairol Herbal Essence. Now, as a consultant, she is equipped to problem-solve for her clients from an unusually dynamic point of view.
As a longtime member of the photo community, Suzanne is also dedicated to giving back. Through her Art of the Personal Project column on the popular website aphotoeditor.com, she highlights notable personal projects by well-known and up-and-coming photographers. The column offers these artists excellent exposure while reflecting Suzanne’s passion for powerful imagery.
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