Jenny Farhat

the LOCALS is a deep dive into people I find in the communities I work and travel in. These interesting beings live life differently, outside the “norm”, and really blow my mind.

Finding people like Jenny in a larger context of the world is already hard. Meaning finding people who beat to their own tambourine. But to have been connected in this tiny, TINY ass Southern California beach town 30 mins North of San Diego and nearly an hour and a half south of Los Angeles is so beautifully constructed I keep pinching myself.

Jenny is a true creator (thank you Rick Rubin and MUSA for making me read his book), working as a Creative Director for an agency, a photographer like myself, partial graphic artist and olive oil business owner. Not to mention she’s Palestinian American and therefore naturally an activist for her people right now and forever. AND she has the most amazing bone structure and charisma in front of my camera. Truly a gem.

First things first, we met through a gallery manager who knows I feel passionate about the ongoing slaughter in Gaza by Israel. Jenny was hosting a film screening educating our community about her other home Palestine and looking for volunteers to assist. Jumping at the opportunity proved to be the beginning of a beautiful working friendship. AND important to NOTE: Jenny is hosting more film screenings in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. If you’re interested please follow her Harvest Peace Instagram for updates and incredible insight from a modern American Palestinian girl.

WHY you should know Jenny Farhat?

She’s different. She’s a critical thinker, ever evolving and really really go where the wind might blow her. Plus she’s working on an incredible project to connect the American side of her heritage with the Middle Eastern side of her heritage. Plus more, hence the blog post :) So read on kids.

Chatting in her kitchen before dressing up for a shoot. Jenny lives in Leucadia a block from the beach cliffs and walking distance to the most amazing shops on the 101. She’s in the middle of basically North County creative heaven. Leucadia is funky with part artist, part local, part celebrity culture.

Understand, a person living a life outside the standards of normal society is something I pride myself on being, but also finding. Creatures dancing inside and out of the “lines” formed by generations before us.  Mostly stepping outside the expected. And Jenny IS unexpected in both work and play. A quality that is so much fun to be around cause who wants to lived planned all the time. (boring)

Jenny’s space that she works and thrives in will be changing soon but it’s simple, extremely warm lol and smells lovely. She curates a space to LIVE in and feel good in. Where we “work” must feed us creatively. Not one space will feel the same but one thing is for sure, you must notice how well your space works for you. Could be one spot, could be many. I know someone who works on a plane most of the time, others in coffee shops. It doesn’t matter where you work as long as it benefits your state of mind. (again Rick Rubin/MUSA thank you)

And nothing beats a woman FULL of passion yet poise. Engage her on any number of topics for an in-depth discussion void of repetition, media speak or common rhetoric. She’s a critical thinker, and leads between the lines. A natural educator. Her perspective and intelligence on the current events make for an invigorating experience let alone, a personal one. 

All of this is exactly why I wanted to photograph her. I’m tired of just beautiful women. This year I’ve begun photographing people moving and shaking.

In order to move forward we must not let go of the past but take it all with us knowing that is why we are who we are at this exact moment. And in 5 mins we might not even be the same person. Jenny rolls with it. Hence why I think, 1. she looks so fucking young at 39, 2. she’s on such a great adventure or working on some amazing project or just hauling ass to the next moment everytime I see her. Being thirsty for the unknown is a great accomplishment.

Much like myself Jenny works in different spaces. And when I say work, I don’t always mean on a labtop. Sometimes we need to sit and stare into the abyss to gather and process. I love the spaces she chooses as her inspo zones.

I couldn’t have dressed her in a more appropriate couture outfit than one made by nonother than Gabe and Jesus of Les Jesus. Both exceptional fashion designers (featured in many MANY editorials such as Vogue) are avid supporters of bringing down oppressive systems and both are actively supporting peace in Gaza. This handmade couture gown from recycled fabrics collected by Gabe and Jesus is striking and made to stand out (clearly). Styling it on someone so powerful like Jenny made sense. Find more collectable one of kind gowns here and more ethically sources clothing at their store The Vintage Jesus.

Styled with a sweater also found at Flashbacks in Encinitas.

She is clutching her Palestine prayer beads. Catching her in this moment brought such emotion. Trying to work through most days with humor is long gone. The moment Israel chose to start relentlessly bombing Gaza some of us well…we’ll never be the same. Photographing someone with such close ties to all of this hell has been uplifting and quite educational.

IF you would like to support Palestine (there are many ways) but one is to purchase work, art, products from Palestinian artisans and businesses. These beads are available here and I think they will be a forever reminder of our stance on what is going on but also the strength and resilience of nation. Whether it exists in the future or not.

I dressed Jenny in vintage because we both believe in sustainable living. Picture here she is wearing this AMAZING beaded dress I collected from PORTER Vintage and this fuzzy sweater I found at Flashbacks in Encinitas.

As a photographer I think sometimes we get a little to caught up in what we’re supposed to be shooting. What we think others will look good for any number of reasons. Say what a client might like and hire us for or what might be more “likes”. But this images I just love for myself regardless because it wraps into one how I feel about Jenny. She is so powerful and full steam ahead even though her people are being relentlessly slaughtered by Israel. We both share a love for photojournalism and already pre Gaza invasion were following photographers from all over the world including Gaza. Seeing those firsthand accounts now will reshape us for the rest of our lives. Yet I still find her carrying on even though I know she must feel very, very HEAVY… Here she looks to the future. She walks with her people and is a fine representative of their strength.

Love you girl. Pumped to work together in the future.

Stay tuned for a live interview with her about film screenings and her next shoot in Dubai and Oman plus any other Jenny wild crazy run ins between now and three weeks from now.

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