A Girl From Long Ago
Posted: May 18th, 2011 | Author: Lara | Filed under: Articles, character study | Tags: mall portrait studio, memory, running late, shy girl | 4 Comments »I remember a little girl I photographed when I was working for a mall portrait studio. She was so cute, with her hair in little braids, and wearing a plain white, sleeveless shirt. She was extremely shy, and didn’t really want to be in the spotlight. I think she was about 3 years old.
Her mother was quite upset because she had waited 20 minutes or so for her session to start – our studio was very busy that day. Every time the little girl looked away from me, her mother would scold her sternly in an attempt to make her cooperate. Of course, feeling the frustration from her mom, the little girl started to cry. She didn’t want her mom to be mad at her!
This continued for a while, and the more the girl cried, the more upset the mom became. And then, of course the girl cried more. And so on.
About 10 minutes into our session, I went to the mother and asked her to step outside of our portrait room so I could try working with the little girl without distractions. She agreed, and as soon as the mom was gone, the girl began to settle down.
I didn’t have much time left to take pictures, as more clients were waiting, but I’ll never forget the great shot I took in that session. The little girl was still feeling shy, and started holding onto her braids. Her hands were up near her head, she was turned to the side, and peeking at me with her eyes. She cracked a smile, and SNAP! I got it.
Mere minutes after desperate tears had been flowing, I got a photo that I would always remember as one of my best (I wish I could show it to you, but I was working for a large studio and the rights to the photo don’t belong to me). Kids are truly amazing and inspirational. They are so skilled at living in the moment. This is something we can all learn from them.
That session happened over 10 years ago. I never saw the girl again. I wonder what she is like now, as a teenager. Maybe she’s still shy, and maybe she still feels pressure from her mother. But I hope she still has the resilience that allows her to let her spirit shine through, even in the midst of a challenge. And I’m so glad her family has that moment captured so they can savor those times that are so far behind us now. That’s what it’s all about.
Wow, Lara!
This story evoked so much in me… there’s something to both the freedom you gave the girl’s true essence to shine and the wonderment of the moment that was captured that has captivated my imagination and brings me a sense of hope.
Gorgeous…
Lara,
You tell this story in a way that allows me to see the little girl perfectly and even sense her feelings. It strikes me that you gave that little girl a beautiful gift that day that allowed her to shine brightly in the moment and that she in return gave a beautiful gift to you in the form of a photograph, memories and inspiration. It’s a great story about the power of connection and the impact that we have on others.
Lara,
What a wonderful story. It captures what I know of you as a woman, a mom, and a photographer. You grace your clients not only with great photos but by witnessing them in a very special way.
What a beautiful story, Lara. Echoing what the others said–a lovely gifting back and forth between you and the little girl. Love the way you catch the moment that allows the essence of your clients to shine.