Belgian photographer Eva Verbeeck grew up dreaming of the “American girl”. Then she spent six years shooting 400+ real ones on large-format film, and the results are extraordinary
Her new book swaps the girls of films and magazines for real ones she photographed across 28 states
Eva Verbeeck, a Belgian photographer, grew up aspiring to be the quintessential "American girl." This longing developed as she observed American culture through films, magazines, and music videos. Ultimately, a typical American girl for her meant a cheerleader, a science nerd, or a goth - glamorous, distant, and slightly unreal.
Years later, while living in the United States, Verbeeck decided to meet real American girls and photograph them. This project began in 2018, starting with a group of cheerleaders in Savannah, Georgia. Verbeeck aimed to avoid preconceived ideas, so she obtained her subjects through open calls, schools, youth groups, and community events.
Each subject was invited to bring along an item that held personal significance. These items ranged from tiaras to electric guitars, competition rifles, horses, and even CPR training dummies.
Verbeeck employed large-format cameras, specifically 4x5 and 8x10, for this project. She did so to slow down the process, allowing for more conversation, vulnerability, and trust between her and the subjects. This choice of format resulted in portraits that looked quite different from the selfies which these girls were accustomed to taking. The large-format camera made the images unfamiliar, foreign, and not in line with the online personas the girls had crafted for themselves.
Verbeeck explored the project beyond just the photographs. Through interviews, recorded conversations, and letters, the girls discussed topics such as friendship, family, their bodies, ambitions, and fears. One poignant example comes from a 15-year-old girl in Ithaca, New York. When no one else was around, she showed Verbeeck an essay she had written about sexism.
The project ultimately featured 54 images of girls aged between six and 18 from 28 states, published in the photobook "America’s Girls, On the Edge of a Dream" by GOST in 2024.
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