Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs

Hold Still is a bold and lyrical memoir from renowned photographer Sally Mann. Blending personal history with powerful photographs, Mann traces her life from a childhood in the American South through a career that challenged conventions and sparked national conversations.

Rooted in the landscape of Virginia, the book explores family legacy, artistic ambition, and the complexities of memory. Mann revisits the controversial reception of her early work, particularly portraits of her children, and reflects with honesty on the intersection of intimacy and art.

As she unpacks old letters, photos, and family secrets, Mann builds a narrative that is both deeply personal and culturally resonant. She writes with the same precision and intensity that marks her images, revealing a life shaped by love, loss, curiosity, and the haunting beauty of place.

Hold Still is not only a story about making photographs—it is a story about seeing, remembering, and claiming the past. With clarity and grace, Sally Mann offers a rare and unforgettable portrait of what it means to live a creative life fully and fearlessly.