Womxn in Progress: María Magdalena

Every Wednesday in March 2022, I am sharing one #womxninprogress, detailing the work of a creative, inspiring womxn in my life. Click here to learn about these spotlights and/or submit a spotlight.

Bienvenidos to Womxn in Progress, starring my wonderful amiga and colleague, Magdalena! We met last July, a few weeks after I moved to Colorado. From day one of meeting her, I knew we were going to be friends, due to her quiet confidence, style, and warmth. Like me, she’s a (literal) wearer of many hats: educator, creative, and leader. Read on to to discover how Magdalena keeps learning while teaching and how her photos spark joy, for those behind and in front of the camera.

Magdalena: Keep your eyes open!

Magdalena sees before she shoots a portrait or place. She’s drawn to colors, especially when these bright spots are surrounded by hard metal or exposed brick. This keen sense of light has led to some powerful shots of both friends and strangers (and, not to worry, she asks before taking a picture, showing the result to the new model). Peep the collage for photos of friends and family, including a self-portrait on the upper right.

Kaylie: Don’t forget to expose your heart!

Last summer, I only knew one person when I started my new job at an independent school in Denver, so when I was invited to a colleague’s home and happy hour, I jumped at both opportunities to meet friends outside of work. This led to a kinship with Magdalena. We’ve since made some amazing memories, from life talks and walks to Sunday’s photoshoot. As Magdalena says, “we just had a wonderful time taking pictures! Deep conversations about life count as collaboration; there is transmission of knowledge, experience and momentums.” It’s no wonder her Instagram handle is “Magdalena Corazon”, as her heart is on the (social) page!

Magdalena: “BE STILL AND KNOW…”

WOW. If that’s not a Call to Action, I don’t know what is. When we did the photoshoot, I felt flow: Magdalena didn’t force any poses but allowed me to take my time OR dance, depending on the moment. She suggested some elements, like moving my foot down to show I do indeed have 2 feet. Our banter, locations, and poses were never forced, and it was fun! Plus, I rather unintentionally slowed down to respect the project, but rest assured, Magdalena KNOWS this field. And it’s one of her many fields of study, too.

Kaylie: Become captivated by your own creativity!

Our photoshoot was a creative project for both of us, and I felt like a performer again. I was a dancer for many years, usually reserving makeup for the stage. As Magdalena says, “taking pictures makes me feel like another person.” On Sunday, I felt and looked different, too (see a picture of me on the bottom left of the collage). Magdalena chose my style, making my blue eyes look GREEN through fuchsia and gold shadows on my lids! Plus, we put the ensemble together, pairing thrifted items with items I already own, honoring my German/English/Danish heritage with a felt hat. We tried different accessories and created so many looks from a baseline idea of black outfit, yellow coat, and the results were beautiful!

Magdalena: I have a constant state of wonder and learning never ends. I tend to see things through the lens of an Anthropologist; I approach people and cultures with an open mind.

Curiosity and caring are at the root of everything Magdalena does. From teaching Spanish to young ones, to learning songs in different languages, to educating herself on shooting and editing techniques, her heart and mind are open. After taking accounting in Mexico, she began studying (and traveling) the world. A few years ago, she even went back to school to study her dream field, Anthropology, resulting in summa cum laude honors! These practices make her “feel connected with something bigger, intangible yet real. My heart is like a colorful tapestry, multicultural, there is a lot of Mexico there, especially from my beautiful home Zacatecas, but there is a lot of German as well, some Japanese, some Tibetan and some more. I have been nurtured by Denver for 18 years, and for that I am grateful.” I too am grateful Colorado brought us together!

Kaylie: Learning makes the world even bigger!

Magdalena and I love to learn from others but also appreciate solo time to explore cultures through international film, meals, and music. I’m looking forward to more creative endeavors with her, whether she or I is behind the camera. She makes me feel beautiful, seen, and appreciated, with or without photos to prove it. Take a look at Magdalena’s Instagram here. Muchas gracias to Magdalena for showing her time and talents to the world!