It's getting Christmas-y with these images from last month's Christmas at Penland sessions!
I love that this mother wanted to document this time in their lives, at such an important age for her daughter who is on the precipice of her teen years.
Family photos are a priority when children are young, but so often, the images trail off as kids get older.
I totally get it, the go go go of parenting, work, school, hanging out with friends, extracurriculars, etc. is overwhelming and puts a strain on family time.
Photos are not always a priority when there are a million other things going on.
However, I also would argue that the tween and teen years are a critical time to document a family. Kids are figuring out who they are as individuals and seeking independence.
Parents are in the final stretch of shepherding their children through the world before it’s time for the kids to go out and discover it for themselves.
What a formative and bittersweet season of life!
During our session together, I told the daughter, “Who you are right now is so special.”
I fully believe this. Who she is now is a stepping stone toward who she will become.
I hope that for years to come, these photographs will help define a specific period, the laying of a foundation in this mother and daughter’s relationship.
❤️🦊