Kids crack me up. I love their quirkiness and their ever-changing “obsessions”. I’ve watched our kids bounce from one passionate interest to the next, seemingly overnight. From toys…. to sports…. to Super Heroes. It’s fascinating!
I’ve noticed something particularly interesting about “tween” children. Kids 8-12 years old are not babies anymore, but they aren’t grown up either.
Tweens are extremely passionate little people and not shy about sharing their enthusiasm with the world. One believes with no question that she WILL be a jedi. Another will certainly be an Olympic gymnast. They don’t carry the reluctance or embarrassment that you suddenly have as a teenager. I love the excitement!
I began offering Tween Passion Photography Sessions last year because I believe it’s so important to capture these interests NOW. Document and memorialize them while they are so real and raw.
What a great keepsake for those that turn their passion into something as an adult! And for those where it’s a just passing fad? Well, you will have proof of their pursuit when it was on fire.
I did a Tween Passion Session with David last year. By now, you can probably guess that his thing is LEGOs. He is 8, and while we has been playing with blocks since he was a baby, today's it's at an all new level.
Take a look : )
His session was such a joy for me. I went to his home so he could give me a quality tour of alllll his creations and could see where he likes to build. David is an animated kid by nature, however, it was amazing to watch him come more and more to life as he did his show and tell.
This photo shoot was ALL about him and he knew it : )
As a part of my pre-session work, I like to interview someone that can shed a little more light on the passion (very similar to how I get to know high school seniors before their session day). David's mom gave me a little background:
How long has your child been involved in this hobby or interest?
He has always loved building. He had MegaBlocks as a baby and then Lego Duplo and now just regular Lego. Building with them just "clicked" and he never looked back!
Why did he become involved in this activity? Why does he love it?
David has always had a very creative mind and building was fun. Plus with all of the licensed sets there has always been a set that fit his current interests at whatever age he was. The older he gets the more complex the sets are. He likes seeing how the pieces fit together to create something new. And the satisfaction of starting with a pile of pieces and ending with an awesome creation is something he thrives on.
Is there something in particular that makes YOUR child unique?
His creativity and pure enjoyment in making things. And his desire to take an idea and bring it to fruition despite obstacles along the way. He is so curious about how things are made and how they work. His brain never stops working!
What do you hope your child will see when they look at these photos?
I want him to look at the photos and see his passion reflected back. I want him to see his creativity and confidence. I want him to feel proud. I hope he feels inspired to keep creating. Since he was 4 years old he has said he wants to be a Lego Master Builder when he grows up, or to be a Lego Set designer/creator.
Do you have a tween at home? Are they particularly good at soccer or over-the-top obsessed with Harry Potter? If you’d like to discuss a passion photography session, let’s talk! Click below to start the conversation.
Thanks for reading : )
Kasey
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