Portrait Photography Zaps Awkwardness and Low Self-Esteem in 'Tweens and 'Teens

We all know that growing up is hard, but do you ever feel like growing up today is harder than it was when we were 'tweens? As a 'tween today, your child is working hard to find his/her way. Every 'tween wants to fit in, but social awkwardness can be the most difficult part of being a 'tween. Is your child shy? Does your child feel insecure? Does your child lack self-confidence? This is all common in 'tweens, but when it's not addressed, it can continue into the 'teen years and adulthood.

Low self-esteem - when one sees oneself as inadequate, unlovable, and/or incompetent - is an ongoing spiral that can be difficult to break out of. Often times, low self-esteem is related to (perceived) looks. For example, consider the following statistics from DoSomething.org about 'teens and self-esteem:

70% of girls feel they're simply not good enough, such as in looks, relationships, or school performance
44% of girls in high school and 15% of guys in high school are trying to lose weight
For girls, self-esteem is more about self-image as related to body shape and weight as opposed to actual weight
More than 40% of boys in middle/high school exercise specifically to build muscle mass

And what are the consequences of low self-esteem?

More than 70% of girls age 15-17 years, when feeling bad about how they look, avoid normal activities like going to school
Whereas only 25% of girls with high self-esteem engage in negative activities, 75% of girls with low self-esteem engage in negative activities
Teenage girls with low self-esteem are 4 times more likely to engage in activities with boys that they come to regret later on
A close 6% of boys in middle/high school have used steroids
And finally, 20% of teens struggle with depression

Are you wondering yet what this has to do with portrait photography?

As a professional photographer, I have a power. And that power is to create photographs that make girls and boys, men and women, feel good... no GREAT... about how they look! I have the power to influence self-image and to BUILD self-esteem and confidence! And when I have the opportunity to do it as early as the 'tween and 'teen years... if I can help make a 'tween feel less awkward, or bring a 'teen out of that self-perpetuating spiral of low self-esteem... then I have truly made a difference.

BOOK A CONFIDENCE-BUILDING 'TWEEN, 'TEEN, OR FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION.