“I look so beautiful,” said my daughter in a voice that was not quite a whisper, but soft and filled with a mix of pride, awe, and wonder. Her voice at that moment was one of the most beautiful tones I have ever heard. I wished I could just bottle it up to play again and again. I had just played her a slideshow I created from some images I captured a few weekends ago on a stunning Sydney afternoon. It was an ordinary afternoon spent at the park – not a planned session or a special occasion. True to my daughter’s nature, she had picked a sparkly dress even though she fully intended to climb, play in the sand, throw the frisbee, and get all sorts of dirty and sweaty. Since the dress sparkled, I grabbed my camera as we left but didn’t pick it up until we were heading home. The light was amazing so we went on a little walk along the wharf. It was a walk filled with the usual six year old shenanigans – twirling in the light, playing in some water, tossing the frisbee with her brother, and playing their favourite game of Sleeping Beauty. But something about that afternoon shimmered, creating a window that allowed me to capture my daughter’s spirit – her joy, exuberance, beauty and tenderness – in a way that I don’t get to see very often.
“Of course you do,” I replied. “You are beautiful.” She looked up at me with a huge smile that literally brought tears to my eyes. I tell my daughter she is beautiful a lot. But often all those articles about how instead of saying your daughter is pretty or beautiful you should tell them they are smart or hard working or strong make me catch myself. I do tell her she is strong and smart but I equally believe that children should believe they are beautiful – both girls and boys. But especially little girls. Our culture will always put beauty on a pedestal. I want my daughter to grow up knowing she is beautiful. That her beauty radiates from deep inside. That it makes her compassionate, strong, capable, and kind. I want her to believe in beauty and how it makes the world a softer gentler place when it is used for good and not evil.
She wanted me to play the slideshow again and again. I watched her as she watched and I hoped that the true to life, candid images she was seeing of herself were being etched in her mind somewhere. So whenever she doubted herself, or felt bad, or had a bad day, one might just pop up and she’ll remember how her mum saw her on that ordinary day. And her day will rise with the smile that crosses her face as she remembers she is beautiful.
I would love to capture the beauty you see in your child. Contact me to book a session.
It was such an honour and privilege to begin this Kids in Sydney project by photographing Claudia and Matt Bowman with their three gorgeous children. Claudia and Matt, natives of Sydney, decided to settle in the heart of the City upon returning from their travels about ten years ago. When they decided to start a family, it never occurred to them to move out from the vibrant neighbourhood of Potts Point. They feel strongly that their kids are at a great benefit growing up within a stone’s throw of Kings Cross. “The dynamic city neighbourhood provides us with the most educational, stimulating, convenient, social environment for us to exist as a healthy, happy, balanced family unit whilst working and interacting with our environment and the people in it,” Claudia said the day we met for her family session.
We met on a sparkling Sydney Saturday at their new apartment in Rushcutter’s Bay. The children have a stunning public front yard in which to run, play, laugh, and learn. With tennis courts, a playground, and the harbor all at their feet, it is hard to argue that the space sacrificed by apartment living is really necessary to a healthy, happy childhood. The children, 6, 5 and 3, were eager to show off their favourite trees for climbing, beach for dipping their toes in, and grassy green parks where they played chase and a bit of football while I snapped and looked on.
Claudia is also a legend when it comes to advocating for resources needed to raise kids in the City of Sydney. And Matt has supported her efforts every step of the way. Claudia has spent years encouraging the City to invest in needed infrastructure like upgraded parks and playgrounds, safer crossing areas, bubblers, and improved library space for kids. “We are fortunate to have an accessible local government that has been most sympathetic to the changing demographic of our neighbourhood- there is no doubting that our neighbourhood has had to evolve to accommodate the change of behaviour of young families staying in the city rather than heading out to the suburbs,” said Claudia.
Claudia and Matt are active in the community professionally. A small business owner, Claudia is a cheesemonger and owner of McIntosh & Bowman, a cheese events company. Matt is a dedicated high school teacher.
I asked Claudia what opportunities she and Matt felt their family had access to because they live in the City. , Claudia was quick to rattle off at least a dozen benefits of city living. At the top of her list was the ability to offer their children more opportunities to be stimulated and educated by tapping into the amazing comprehensive and free schedule of public events hosted by the City. Events like Vivid, Art and About, the Night Noodle Markets and the Christmas Concerts give families who might have limited financial resources the ability to still offer incredible cultural opportunities to their children.
It was such a joy to photograph this amazing family in their beautiful city neighbourhood. Here are some images from our afternoon together.
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If you are interested in participating in this project, please email me at allison@allisonlee.com.au. I would love to hear from you!
I have been photographing lots of dance classes lately and was thrilled when Miss Jackie asked me to take a few snaps from our Pyrmont Munchie Movers class. This is my daughter’s second year of Munchie Movers and I love that this year my son was able to join her. We LOVE Miss Jackie – and I love that this class is full of hip hop, ballet, acrobatics and tons of fun. On this particular day the kids were in full on dance mode – twirling, rolling, spinning and dancing their little hearts out. It’s an hour full of non stop activity which results in guaranteed happy tired kids. I love that I’ll have these photos of them when they are grown – and I hope Miss Jackie loves them too.
I’d love to capture your little ones learning and having fun. Let’s make a date to get together soon.
October -what else could be more important than Halloween to a child? Halloween was my favourite holiday as a kid. My family usually had a Halloween Party, the school had a festival, there was trick-or-treating, pumpkin picking….the list went on and on. When we first moved to Australia not a decoration could be found in the shops. So sad! The Canadians were the only group throwing a Halloween Party – thank goodness for them. Fast forward four years and now there are decorations in the grocery stores, trick-or-treating in most neighbourhoods, and this year we had four parties to go to! We celebrated everywhere – in Pyrmont, the Botanic Gardens, Darling Harbour and Balmain. That made this American expat very very happy. It is still not as big as in America and I am not sure I will ever be accustomed to it being a Spring holiday but we had a great time. So for this month’s 5 on 5, here are a few snaps from our Halloween fun – from Halloween dance class to my little Ariel waiting on her trick-or-treating friends. Such fun Down Under 🙂
I’d love to capture your family’s special events. Let’s make a date to get together soon.
It has been birthday birthday birthday in our house. My daughter had been looking forward to turning five since the last guest left her fourth birthday party. We’d had a sticker chart countdown posted since the end of July. And I think the Frozen theme was picked sometime in May. Such high anticipation – even more so than Christmas! Being time poor with two little ones under foot, all Pinterest ideas went out the window. In flew party food picked out by my daughter – pretzels, popcorn, store bought “party only” cookies, marshmellows, blue jelly and apple juice. Tableware, balloons, decorations and the coveted Disney Store Elsa dress were lugged back from America by a willing daddy. Elsa and Anna were booked. And luckily, my daughter picked out the easiest of all the Elsa cakes I showed her. “Please don’t let anyone get sick” ran through my mind for weeks before the party.
Finally it arrived. And it was perfect. Thirty-five little friends graced the doors of the party hall creating the most beautiful sea of blue, silver and white with most of the little girls in their Elsa dresses. Upon the Arrendelle Sisters’ arrival, my daughter was so in awe she couldn’t even look at Queen Elsa. Elsa and Anna were sent by Fairy Crystal and they were simply magical. Music, dancing, “pass the snowball”, and face painting ensued followed by the most beautiful rendition of “Let it Go” sung by Queen Elsa and 35 little voices. My favourite moments though were the ones where I caught my daughter dancing by herself as if no one was watching – a sign that she is over the moon happy. Then it was time for cake. I think one of the best parts of birthday parties is looking out and seeing everyone you like and love singing “Happy Birthday” to YOU. And as a parent, it’s an incredible moment. I know my birthday girl felt special and loved. After the party she declared “her party was perfect.” That’s all this mum wanted to hear. Onwards to six as my daughter says. The birthday countdown has started again.
I posted many more than 5 photos for my 5 on 5 this month but please follow along and see what my friend Sharyn as been up to in September.
I’d love to capture your child’s birthday memories. Let’s make a date to get together.