The Inspiration
In the fall of 2017 I came across a photography book called “Strong Is The New Pretty” by Atlanta based photographer Kate T. Parker. Through stunning images, Parker tells the stories of powerful girls defying the “norms” of girlish (I hate that word) and being 100% themselves. I was inspired. I wanted to create a way to bring the concept to girls in my world. My first thought was to create my own visual collection, much like Parker, but then I started thinking bigger than that. I talked to the parents of pre-teen and teen girls that I knew and to the girls themselves, and gradually the concept of a “This Is Me” session took shape. Rather than just contributing an image or two to a collection, I wanted to be able to give adolescent kids and their parents a more complete portfolio of images that celebrates the uniqueness of them. (Side note – it was at this point I realized that as much as I was inspired by Parker’s focus on girls, I wanted my sessions to be for all genders. Parker also went on to create “Heart of A Boy”)
When kids reach the age of 11 or 12 they start leaving behind “childhood” and stepping into their own sense of identity and who they are in the world. For some this is a single minded focus on a particular sport, but for others is a stage of experimentation and trying on new things. My goal is to record all of that through beautiful photographs. Images that the teen will be proud of and also that parents will cherish as a marker of a moment in the journey of development.
Why This Is Me is different from family photos
In my regular family photo sessions, I always make individual portraits of the kids. This Is Me is something different. During a family session, the story is about being part of the whole, a member in the larger. We often meet in locations chosen by the parents to reflect their desired outcome. The kids are asked to wear clothes that “fit” with the family look. And mums are always prompting the kids to smile! This is Me sessions are about one star. We work in locations that the teen has chosen. They wear what they want to wear, reflecting what is important to them. Sometimes this is a team uniform, sometimes everyday looks, sometimes something more fashion-forward or “dressed up”. Many of my clients like to showcase their favourite activities; everything from baking to musical performance to dance or sport. Others choose to have me capture them being them, without the prompt of an activity. The other aspect that most kids really enjoy – no parents! It’s me and them having fun. I give them permission not to smile (although I inevitably get lots of smiles too, but natural ones) and to not follow the suggestions that I make (poses, angles, etc.) if they don’t feel right They get to run the show, I’m there to provide a bit of coaching and to make the photos.
Senior Photography
In many parts of the US, graduation from highschool is marked with “Senior Portrait” sessions. These sessions supply photos to yearbooks, and mementos to parents (and families) that are usually so much more creative that the standard “Cap and Gown” school run photos that are typical around here. Senior Photographers (as the pros that specialize in this genre are known) work with grads to create images that are often worthy of magazine spreads. They highlight the accomplishments of the teen as they mark this first significant step towards adulthood. Photographs are produced as artwork for the family home, glossy albums and “grad cards” sent to friends and relatives. I’ve spent several years trying to figure out why this genre is so popular in the US, but barely even registers north of the border. (I still don’t have an answer!) What I discovered was that my This Is Me sessions actually serve the role of senior photos that were being sought by a handful of American expats in my area. Many Canadian families have caught on to the idea also, especially in pandemic times when so many of the other trappings of highschool graduation are on hiatus. Each year I’ve photographed more and more graduates in the west GTA.
So what is a “This Is Me” photography session? Whatever a teen wants it to be. End of Story.
If you are interested in finding out more about This Is Me photo sessions or to book a session, please visit the dedicated site : thisismeteens.ca
Footnote
Fun fact – I’d chosen the name “This Is Me” before hearing the award winning song from “The Greatest Showman” The timing of the movie release was uncanny. I love that the lyrics of the song speak to the spirit of my intention with the session.
