Sk8ter Leah: A Photo Session
Yesterday my daughter texted me to ask if we could do a photo session “to make her feel pretty.” Since I remember what it was like to be 13 and not feel pretty, and that was long before the toxicity of Instagram and social media…. (well in reality I know what it’s like to be 46 and not feel pretty…) I said sure. Yes I have a gazillion hours of client work to do, and a ton of other stuff that needs to be tended to, but sometimes that stuff just needs to be put on hold. Summer is almost over, the school year will “start” with less than ample certainty of anything, so on this beautiful Saturday afternoon, I wanted her to feel pretty.
She has worked several Senior Sessions with me this summer with the sole purpose of attaining her payment in the form of roller skates. Not just any roller skates, but pink iridescent roller skates she found online. She had a “look” she was wishing for, so today we headed off to the thrift stores and $25 later in clothes and accessories, the wardrobe was set. She wanted “space buns” (that’s a new term for me) and curls, so we went to the studio, and as we jammed out to the Hamilton soundtrack, I did her hair, and as much makeup as she is allowed to wear at her ripe old age. We wandered around downtown and shot in several locations. We laughed and talked and laughed some more.
As we worked through the session, it became clear to me, from a Photographer standpoint, that one does not need to spend a huge amount of money on clothing, or have to have unique or far off destination to create amazing images. It takes a vision (that my daughter brought) and someone with the ability to deliver that vision. She felt like a rockstar and it took $25 and 5 square blocks in downtown Valley City. I absolutely love doing stylized sessions like this.
From a Mom standpoint, its becoming increasingly clear how much I wish I could hit the pause button on life. She is this beautiful mix of innocence and worldliness, stubbornness and giving, quirkiness and quick wit. And, I wonder how she could ever not realize her beauty. I hope she can look at these and see what I and so many others see.
A message from Leah: Fight Corona! Wear a mask!
Those Eyes Though….
