Strong Is the New Pretty: A Photographic Journey

As the mother of 5- and 8-year-old daughters, Atlanta-based photographer Kate T. Parker takes the way that society views females to heart. That's why she began her ongoing photo project, "Strong is the New Pretty." In Kate's own words:

It is a series of photographs showing my two young girls, as well as their friends, just as they are — loud, athletic, fearless, messy, joyous, frustrated. I wanted to celebrate these girls as they are, not how females are expected to be. I wanted to celebrate them, just as they are, and show them that is enough. Being pretty or perfect is not important. Being who they are is.

We chatted with Kate about the inspiration for her ambitious project, what she hopes it will accomplish, and what her daughters think of being her subjects. Keep reading to see what she has to say, and allow the captivating imagery to speak for itself. Source: Kate T. Parker Photography

POPSUGAR Moms: Did becoming a mother to girls change your perspective on beauty and the way that women are viewed?

Kate T. Parker: Initially, this project started as a desire to record my daughters and the memories of their childhood, as well as practice with my camera and different lighting situations, environments, times of day, etc.

After about a year or so, it organically grew into something different. The images changed. I started to see patterns and recognize that the images where the girls were authentically captured were the strongest images. The images that showed the girls as they genuinely are were my favorites. After seeing this, I started to shoot with that in mind.

The project became about capturing my girls and their friends as they truly are and how that is OK. Not only OK, but worthy of celebration. There's a lot of pressure for girls (and women) to look a certain way, act in certain manner, and I wanted to let my daughters know that who they naturally are is enough. Source: Kate T. Parker Photography

PSM: Do your daughters understand what you're doing? If so, how have you explained it to them?

KTP: Yes, they understand that they are in my images and understand that it has become a part of our life. I asked them both "What do you think of me taking pictures of you all the time?" From both: "NOT NOW!!!" and "It's good, just not now, OK?" They are so used to it by now that it is kind of second nature to them. Source: Kate T. Parker Photography

PSM: How do you plan to share your message?

KTP: The message that I'd like people to take away from my project is to encourage little girls to celebrate who they are — whoever they are! If your daughter is obsessed with pink, princesses, and ballet, amazing! Or if she is a soccer playing, tough-as-nails bookworm, great! Allow your girls to be who they are, whatever that is. Create an environment for them to feel secure and confident in their own selves. Let them know that whatever it is, whoever they are, that's OK. And not only [is it] OK, it's great. Source: Kate T. Parker Photography

PSM: Did becoming a mother to girls change your perspective on beauty and the way that women are viewed?

KTP: Growing up, I was a total tomboy. I refused dresses, pink, or anything remotely feminine. I was only interested in soccer and being exactly like my big brothers, and this was 100 percent encouraged by my parents. I was never made to feel like I needed to be more "girlie" to be loved or accepted. I have some amazing parents. Source: Kate T. Parker Photography

(Continued): I wanted to continue that feeling of "You are OK just as you are" with my girls. Being a mother of little girls only cemented my belief even more. Encouraging strength, confidence, kindness, as well as toughness was the path we decided upon when we started raising our girls. This feeling and sentiment bled over into my photography where oftentimes everything is beautiful or photoshopped to look perfect. I wanted to show the beauty, uniqueness, and strength of my girls (and their friends) in the imperfect. Messy hair, dirty faces, brave, angry, joyous, whatever is was . . . I wanted to capture it. All these emotions make up childhood. Source: Kate T. Parker Photography

PSM: Do you have a favorite photo in the series?

KTP: I love the one of my daughter right before her first triathlon. She has such confidence in that image. It gives me chills when I look at it. I want her to carry that same confidence with her throughout her life. My hope is that this image can always remind her of how confident she was before that race and give her strength she needs when she might not be feeling as brave or fearless about something in the future. Source: Kate T. Parker Photography

PSM: Do you come up with the themes/settings for your photos in advance, or capture them as they happen organically?

KTP: Great question. It is a combination of both. I always, always try to convey real emotion in my images though. Even if it is a manufactured scene, I want the emotion to be genuine. Most of the time, it is a real event that I happen to be there with my camera, and I will make small photo-stylistic changes to gain best advantage of the space, lighting, etc. However, I try to maintain the authenticity of whatever is happening. Too much meddling, and it is gone. I am mostly an observer. A bossy observer! Source: Kate T. Parker Photography

PSM: What's your ultimate goal/takeaway from this project?

KTP: I'd love for people to embrace this. To share these images. To show them to their daughters and sons. To start documenting their own girls in the same authentic way. To show our daughters that being true to yourself, whatever that is, is enough. Girls do not need to be pretty, compliant, or perfect to be loved. I want our daughters to understand that. Source: Kate T. Parker Photography

(Continued): I think that great things are happening with how women are seen these days. The Lean In movement has been a boon for professional women. Movies like Divergent and The Hunger Games show younger women as heroes, but I'd love something for younger girls to have as their own. Maybe these images can spark that conversation. Source: Kate T. Parker Photography