On February 8th my 7 year old daughter had her first date. Her school holds and annual Father/Daughter dance and her Daddy took her. I was so excited because last year he was still working night-shift and couldn’t get the time off. It crushed her and the following days were tough because she was subjected to story after story from her fellow classmates about how great their dresses were and how much fun they had. At the time I couldn’t do anything but console her and wonder to myself just how big of a deal this stupid dance really is.
This year we found out just how big of a deal! It bothers me beyond words that girls these days are being introduced to such an event at such a young age. I mean what type of excitement will prom hold if they are wearing ball gowns to an Elementary School dance in the gym? I refused to let my daughter or myself get sucked into that. I went on a hunt for a very classy understated dress and a simple curled hair style. I managed to find a GORGEOUS A-line champagne flower girl dress (and only paid $10 with original retail tags still attached). It was simple and very age appropriate but when she put it on it transformed her and the dress into something so elegant and beautiful I almost cried (no…I’m lying…I did cry). Her Daddy, rather than buying a corsage, opted for a really pretty double strand of pearls (fake obviously) and gave them to her when he came to “pick her up” for their date. (He really just ran to the store for some milk and rang the door bell when he got back). While none of this was terribly expensive or lavish, that dress and those pearls were the highlight of her young life. All evening he held doors for her, called her princess and very subtly showed her a standard for courting that will be very important later in life. She felt so special and important.
This is my purpose. My purpose in life, my purpose in love, and my purpose in photography. I am driven to make everyone I photograph feel that same importance. Being able to grab these moments, that one day will remind us of where we come from, is huge for me. There will come a day when my girls will cherish the shots I’ve taken with every fiber of their being. Knowing this feeds my love of photography. Knowing that one day this little kid that fought me tooth and nail for one good shot will be able to show his own kids what his youth was like is more important to me than anything else. So without further ado, I give you a moment from my family’s life that will impress upon my daughter forever.
Until Next Time-
Molly
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