It’s your five-year-old daughter’s birthday. You’re a photographer and you want to take some fun photos of her for the day – maybe in some dress-up. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many moms and little girls, it would be a trip to the toy section of a department stores for a princess dress, a plastic tiara and magic wands… like Cinderella, Snow White, or Belle.
Austin,Texas photographer, Jaime C. Moore decided to take a different route. Instead, Moore and her daughter chose actual female heroines for their photo shoot. They chose real women who have made a grand difference in the world. I can’t help but wonder if the decision took some gentle prodding from mother to daughter. In the end, what a wonderful experience and gift for both of them, a tangible memory to cherish for life. They chose Helen Keller, Coco Chanel, Amelia Earhart, Susan B. Anthony, and Jane Goodall, all incredible women.
Jaime Moore tells the wonderful story of her decision on her website: jaimemoorephotography.com. Here are the excerpts and beautiful photos:
“So my amazing daughter, Emma, turned 5 last month, and I had been searching everywhere for new-creative inspiration for her 5yr pictures.” I noticed quite a pattern of so many young girls dressing up as beautiful Disney Princesses, no matter where I looked 95% of the ‘ideas’ were the ‘How to’s’ of how to dress your little girl like a Disney Princess.”
“Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Disney Princesses, from their beautiful dresses, perfect hair, gorgeous voices and most with ideal love stories in the mix you can’t help but become entranced with the characters. But it got me thinking, they’re just characters, a writers (sic) tale of a princess (most before 1998)…an unrealistic fantasy for most girls (Yay Kate Middleton!).”
“I wanted her to know the value of these amazing women who had gone against everything so she can now have everything. It started me thinking about all the REAL women for my daughter to know about and look up too, REAL women who without ever meeting Emma have changed her life for the better.”
“My daughter wasn’t born into royalty, but she was born into a country where she can now vote, become a doctor, a pilot, an astronaut, or even President if she wants and that’s what REALLY matters. We chose 5 women (five amazing and strong women), as it was her 5th birthday but there are thousands of unbelievable women (and girls) who have beat the odds and fought (and still fight) for their equal rights all over the world”
“So let’s set aside the Barbie Dolls and the Disney Princesses for just a moment, and let’s show our girls the REAL women they can be.”
Is the last photo not precious? Thank you, Jaime C. Moore, for lovely photographic art, the message, and the inspiration.