A model holds a sign over her head in an image that is part of Marathon School teacher Chelsea Bradway’s latest photo exhibition. PHOTO/CHELSEA BRADWAY

Photographer Chelsea Bradway said her upcoming exhibit with fashion stylist Brooke Kanal is a fun and creative way to illustrate how women have a voice and a right to use it.

For the past nine years, Bradway has worked as an integrated preschool teacher at Marathon Elementary School, which she described as “the best job in the world.”

Photography became a part of her life in high school. Over the years, she has learned from several mentors. She picked up the hobby seriously again about a dozen years ago, around age 40.

“Photography always still brings me joy,” Bradway said. “I geek out.”

Noting she is not professionally trained, Bradway said she sometimes surprises herself when she takes a photo. “It is just a passion of wanting to do it,” she said, adding she especially likes photographing “people in movement.”

The key is trying to make her subjects feel comfortable and natural, Bradway said.

The opening reception for the duo’s latest exhibit is Saturday, Oct. 18, from 6-8 p.m. at Apothecary Artists Studios and Gallery, located at 11 Main Street in Southborough. The exhibit runs from Oct. 16-23.

The idea for the exhibit came about when Kanal saw a photo Bradway had taken of her daughter with a “One Way” sign in front of her face.

That image sparked a conversation about how photography could illustrate important messages. For example, Bradway said the “One Way” sign is another way of saying, “You can’t change my mind in any aspect of life.”

In relationships, a “Stop” sign could convey a “no means no” stance, she added.

Bradway teamed with Kanal to provide clothing for the models, who will be featured in color photos with street signs covering their faces.

“People can relate to what the signs say,” said photographer Chelsea Bradway of her latest photo exhibition. “The photo pulls you in and invites you to think about those powerful messages.” PHOTO/CHELSEA BRADWAY

The photographer said she is excited that the photos “could be anybody” and feature a range of models with different nationalities, races and sizes. Bradway said the images are more relatable than typical depictions of beauty and confront the influence of social media and mainstream media.

“People can relate to what the signs say,” Bradway noted. “The photo pulls you in and invites you to think about those powerful messages.”

She added: “Women have something to say, and it is time to hear them.”

Because parenting her daughter and teaching are her priorities, Bradway said she conducts photo shoots primarily on weekends and holidays and after school hours.

Ten years ago, she opened All Things Sparkley Photography, deliberately spelled incorrectly and meant to reflect her love of sequins and bright and shiny objects.

A recent project was “Walking in a Spider Web” on Center Trail in Hopkinton. Bradway made the webs from chandelier pieces.

Her work also has been displayed at galleries in Boston, Framingham and Barcelona, Spain.

She said her next steps include continuing teaching and creating art/photography for as long as possible.

One day, she hopes to take a series of black and white photos featuring senior citizens. Bradway believes the photos could reflect their life stories and personalities, whether that includes jobs, romances or other experiences.

“I think about doing that a lot,” Bradway said. “That would be fun. There is so much history in people and so much to learn still.”