When photographer Jamie Moore was looking for inspiration for a portrait series for her daughter's fifth birthday she saw a lot of princesses. Not that there's anything wrong with that! Moore says she loves princesses. It's just that... "It started me thinking about all the REAL women for my daughter to know about and look up too," she writes in her blog. "REAL women who without ever meeting Emma have changed her life for the better."
So Moore went through photos of brave women who changed the world so that her daughter could be anything she wants to be -- an astronaut, a President, a doctor. She narrowed the list down to "five amazing, strong women" and used the photos to take portraits of her daughter inspired by the originals. The result is an incredible visual love letter to all our little girls and the women who paved the way for us all. You have to see this portrait series, "Not Just a Girl."
Susan B. Anthony, Coco Channel, Amelia Earhart, Helen Keller, Jane Goodall, and... Moore's own daughter Emma, the presidential candidate. What a gorgeous legacy for any girl. Imagine seeing yourself in these women at the age of five. How would that shape the way you see your future and your potential? It's exciting just to contemplate.
I think a lot of us grow up hearing the stories of these women. But we don't necessarily internalize their stories. Words can only take you so far, but images can change how you see everything. Still, since we find words inspiring, too, Moore included treasured quotes from each woman. I live this one by Channel especially:
...In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different -- life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself -- a girl should be two things: Who and what she wants.
And Moore says, "set aside the Barbie dolls and the Disney princesses just for a moment, and let's show girls the REAL women they can be." Wow... don't you just love this so much? Thank, Jamie Moore! You can see more of her work via Moore's Facebook page.
Do you talk about role models with your daughters?
Images courtesy of Jamie Moore Photography