Let them be little

Do you remember what it was like to be a tween?  Stuck in limbo between no longer being a “little girl” and not quite a “young lady?”  Not quite ready to give up your American Girl Doll and definitely not ready for makeup and boys yet.  Shopping at Justice and Target for your clothes is still “cool”, but you can hear American Eagle and the Buckle calling your name!  The Disney Channel is still a favorite, but starting to wonder if you’re getting too old for Bizardvark?  Todays children are encouraged to grow up sooner than they really need to.  All too soon the dolls will be forgotten, the clothing “wars” between mom and tween will start, TV will be replaced with music that is too loud and shows mom (and dad) really wouldn’t approve of.

Now imagine capturing this time in your child’s life in a single photograph.  The joy, the innocence. 

Imagine that photo blown up large and hanging on your wall.  Hanging in a place of prominence in your home, immediately showing anyone who visits how proud you are of your son or daughter.  Studies have shown that “Having portraits of your children and family hanging in your home boosts your child’s self esteem and sends the message that our family and those in it are important to one another, and we honor the memories we have experienced,“ says Cathy Lander-Goldberg, a licensed clinical social worker and a professional photographer in St. Louis, Missouri and the director of Photo Explorations, which offers workshops to girls and women using portrait and journaling for self-reflection.

As I flip through my old family photo album, it’s as if I never even existed as a tween.

Where are all of the photos?

Babies are so cute, new and chubby. Toddlers have those big, bright eyes and lets face it, they just do the darndest things. But those pre-tween and tween ages are often forgotten. At age 9-13, kids aren’t children anymore, but aren’t quite teens.  Let’s celebrate this time in their lives instead of dreading it.  Let’s show them the importance of pictures of themselves beyond the selfie.  Let’s put them in front of the camera, with a photographer that is eager to get to know them and let’s create memories that will be treasured for generations to come!

kDarling Photography is located in Fisher, IL at small town in Central Illinois, just a few minutes from Champaign – Urbana.  Kristin is a mom to Payton & Mackenzie, wife and longtime lover of all things creative.  She specializes in photographing newborns, children of all ages and families, with an occasional high school senior sprinkled in for good measure.  Capturing the true personalities of her subjects with yummy dreamy light makes her heart sing.  She is a “hybrid photographer” meaning she uses both digital and film cameras to create her photographs.  When she doesn’t have a camera in her hand, she can be found at home editing, or at the “happiest place on Earth”…which is Target, of course!!  To schedule your next session with her, please contact kDarling Photography at by email or at 217.778.1325

For information on wedding photography, please visit our wedding website at www.SweetDarlingWeddings.com