6th Grade Portraits: A Personal Moment with My Daughter
A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to photograph my daughter for her 6th grade portraits. She asked to keep the session close to home, somewhere that felt familiar and meaningful. So, I chose a location we often pass during our walks - a quiet spot with beautiful flowers and walls we always admire together. Every time we pass by, she says, “That would be such a pretty photo spot.” It felt only fitting to finally use it.
The shoot didn’t last long. Within minutes, she was bitten by a bug and her arm swelled up quickly. Still, in just five short minutes, I managed to capture ten beautiful images that truly reflected her spirit in that moment.
Our second location was even more personal: our backyard. I have always loved it, even with the tall grass that I am ironically allergic to. That day, the wind was just gentle enough to create the perfect soft wave through her hair, giving the portraits a dreamy, natural feel. It was perfect.
As I sat down to edit the images, my heart unexpectedly swelled with emotions. With every photo I opened - every smile, every glance, even the silly faces she made - I could feel tears welling in my eyes. It hit me so deeply: this is who she is right now, at this exact moment in her life. Not who she was yesterday or who she’ll be next year - just her, as she is today. And this moment… it won’t come again.
That realization made me pause. Because as moms, we know how quickly time slips through our fingers. One day we’re ting their shoes, and the next we’re watching them grow into young women with thoughts, dreams, and personalities all their own. These photographs are more than just images - they are proof of a moment that mattered. Proof that she was here, she was loved, and she was seen exactly who she is.
One day, I’ll look back at these portraits and hold them in my hands, grateful that I have a tangible memory of this season. But more importantly, she will have them too. She will flip through her photo albums and see her own story - her joy, her growth, her childhood. That, to me, is the greatest gift I can give her. A legacy of love captured in photographs.
There’s nothing that can recreate the emotions she’ll feel when she sees these images years from now. Her smile, her laugh, the way the light hit her hair that day in our backyard - these are the things she will remember. These are the moments that mater.
Grace Margritz | Colorado Springs Senior Photographer
