Okay, high school senior girls might be my new favorite subject to photograph…these blossoming young woman are soooo much more rooted in knowing who they are than I ever was at their age. And I ABSOLUTELY LOOOOVE IT!!

Like so many of us females, they doubt their outer beauty and have insecurities that, from an outside observer’s perspective, seem unbelievable. But, underneath all of that is a quiet confidence and a comfortability that I find both stunningly beautiful and super inspiring.

Getting to take what I think are beautiful photos of them, photos I hope allow them to see what the rest of the world sees, is truly a gift!! And I’m having so much fun!! I want to empower them and I think I’ve always been nervous about how the world over-sexualizes young women…all women really, but especially young ones. What I’m hoping to do with my sessions is learn who they are and how they want to be photographed/seen in the world and then capture their image in a way that fuels their self-empowerment.

I really hope I’m doing that…particularly with this next young woman, who continued to say throughout our time together as she looked at the photos on the back of my camera….”it’s cute, but the problem is my face.” Each time she said this, my heart broke. She is SOOO BEAUTIFUL on the inside….a uniquely curious, adventure-seeking, super smart, warm, just generally lovely young woman, who isn’t afraid to color outside of the lines. And to me…there’s not much more beautiful than that! And bonus…her outside matches her inside. But, that piece she has yet to fully realize. My hope is that this session helps get a bit closer to that realization and that it let’s her see what a force she really is!

Please say hello to Lovely Lilah! And a special shout out to her lovely momma, whose birthday it is today and who I photographed several years ago in some of these same spots. It felt like a full-circle moment to photograph her lovely daughter there too.

We started out in Barnstable, under a hidden boardwalk that I’ve used before for various sessions. It can be a great spot out of the sun, but also offers dramatic lighting and can be super fun at high tide or low tide. I’ve never seen it quite as low as it was on the day Lilah & I went, but it was FABULOUS! And, adventurous Lilah was having fun climbing the piling rafters.

What I found so  amazing about this session is how many different looks Lilah has, depending on how big she’s smiling. I really think she could easily be a model and I find it sooooo unbelievable that she doesn’t like her stunning face!! Like…what???!!!!

In this next one on the right, she reminds me so much of a young Julia Stiles. We were leaving the first location on our way to the second when I spotted some tall reeds on the side of the road. Inspired by the little adventurer beside me, we decided to stop, hop out and grab a couple of quick pics….and boy am I glad we did!! On the right was our second location, where I’d photographed her mom several years ago. A little dinghy stuck in the low tide mud was a perfect perch for some pics.

This candid moment as she swept her hair out of her face nearly made me fall over when I saw it happening….so pretty!!!

Easy, breezy, beautiful….(she could totally be a Cover Girl!) Hey Cover Girl….what do you think?

In the photo on the right she reminds me of a young Drew Barrymore. See what I mean about so many different looks? I feel like I always look the same when being photographed and it’s nothing like this! lol!

These next few are what Lilah really wanted to do, since she liked the similar images I took of her mom here at this location. And, I gotta say…I’m LOVING them!

She’s just so natural and playful and happy in her skin….

Playful, lovely Lilah…

The sunset gave us the warmest end-of-summer glow to the light and it was dreamy….

The many beautiful faces of Lilah…

She wanted to walk out into the muddy flats and I suggested running. I just love the feeling of freedom in this next photo. It feels like it really captures her spirit and essence.

After the session, Lilah’s dad gave us some history on this area and this dilapidated sea wall, which I guess was part of an old whaling port. It made for a very cool backdrop…

With the sun pretty much gone from the sky…we decided to play with low light and motion….so fun!

I just love the feeling of freedom and joy on her face in the photo on the right! So happy and fully present in the moment. It’s how I strive to be and in moments like this, doing something that makes my heart sing….I’m right there!

Walking out into the mud flats…for a final few photos. I LOVE the artsy vibe of the image on the right and the emotions it evokes for me. What do you think?

Lilah was more a fan of far away photos, where she couldn’t see her face…because she said, “it was the problem.” Lunacy….but, I have to say, I was totally on board when she wanted to venture out into the mud flats for this post sunset scene. Just stunning! And, the bird flying high in the right corner just echoed what I felt is happening in Lilah’s life right now. Soooo perfect!!!

Shama…THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH for entrusting your baby girl to me and allowing me to document this milestone moment in her life. We both had so much fun! Lilah, I hope when you look at these photos, you see what all of us who adore you see….a blossoming young woman whose beautiful outside matches her BEAUTIFUL inside! You are a force, Lovely Lilah….a strong, centered, warm, bright, articulate, curious, adventurous, kind, full of LOVE ray of sunshine and I can’t wait to see where the future takes you! Have fun this last year of school! Enjoy your hiking adventure!!!

With big love, C xoxo