Toni Greaves

Dominican Nuns, Summit, New Jersey

Toni Greaves is a documentary photographer with a passion for storytelling. Born and raised in Australia, Toni has lived in the United Kingdom and the USA, and has traveled within Europe, Asia, and Africa. She has an extensive background in having worked for over a decade as an Art Director and Creative Director in both the USA and Europe. Her photographic clients include The New York Times, TIME Magazine, The FADER, Sports Illustrated and The New Jersey Star Ledger. Toni holds a Masters degree in Visual Communication Design, and is a graduate of the Documentary Photography and Photojournalism program at the International Center of Photography, in New York City. She also has degrees in both Graphic Design and Journalism. Most recently she was awarded a New York Times Scholarship for her photojournalism work, was a finalist at the New York Photo Awards, and was the recipient of a fellowship by the Johnson & Johnson Foundation.

About the Photograph:

The Dominican Nuns of Summit, New Jersey are a Roman Catholic cloistered monastic community. Their primary mission is to pray for the salvation of souls, and to support the preaching mission of the Dominican friars. The 21 Nuns lead a hidden life of Eucharistic prayer, adoration, thanksgiving, and intercession. At the time of taking this photo, 21-year-old Sister Lauren Franko had been a Novice Nun for two months. Now 22, she recently had her “clothing ceremony” –her official engagement to God– where she received the Dominican habit and took a new, holy, name of her choosing… Sister Maria Teresa of the Sacred Heart.