Ladies, do you remember those awkward years? The ones when you aren’t still a little girl and aren’t quite yet a young woman? Think….remember…..and now pause….and breathe. 🙂

I look back on old photos of myself and see weird hair (not just because it was the 80s). I see parts that developed before other parts. I remember not fitting in…or not feeling like I did. Feeling pretty….(and then thinking I look pretty and looking back and wondering what I was thinking). I remember not feeling like it was ok to be in a different place as someone else – despite the fact that we are ALL over the board at that age. Ugh, it was so awkward.

I think this may be why I have a sweet spot in my heart for girls in that age range – the tween years. They are the years when you can line up 5 girls, ages spanning just 3 years, and have a world of difference. Differences in body style/shape/development, music interests, attitudes, understanding, and even glimpses into who they will be as a woman.

Oh, it’s precious. It’s beautiful. And today, I celebrated it.

For a while now I’ve had this idea stewing around in my head about focusing on tween photography. I mean, I just love it. I love it. So Saturday I started taking those thoughts out loud, and made a last minute plan to have a fun little shoot with a few young girls. I sent out a few text messages, grabbed a few moms at church, and said “let’s just have fun.”

Colors.

Glitter.

Glitz.

Candy.

Flowers.

Fun.

They started rolling in today….the Katy Perry Pandor station going….nails being painted, hair & makeup being done (thank you Julie Baxter!!!), and wardrobe. I must admit I went a little nuts and spent a wee bit of time buying all different shirts & skirts & funky socks and hair ties and what not…..but I wanted each and every one of them to feel like they were being treated today. Treated to a fun adventure. (Plus, who doesn’t love a rainbow pony tshirt?)

I set up a mini candy-shop, I made life size “lollipops,” and thanks to the sweet generosity of Horrocks Market, we had our own greenhouse/candyshop/fruitstand as our “canvas.”

Each and every one of these girls blew me away. They were sweet, they were cute, they were even sultry and had lots of sass. I saw young women that will be…and little girls that still are.

It was just a beautiful picture of being perched between two places….the old and the yet to come….the sweet spot. It was exactly what I love to see, and what I want to celebrate.

Thank you to each and every one of these girls who helped me celebrate it today.

If you have that awkward tween out there…..don’t let those years go by without celebrating who they are now. Embrace where they have been, celebrate where they are, and sit in anticipation with them for what will be.