I always do appointments for clients to try on the dress(s) we use in their sessions prior to the session itself.  There are many reasons for this – not the least being – the initial reaction from the client. 

If a child – it’s always amazing to me how they simply light up.  These dresses would make anyone feel magical, but a child’s face truly tells me what direction I’ll go in for their session.

Recently, at one of these try-on sessions, this sweet girl, Caroline, was so excited and she began to tell me how she could see beautiful pearls (as she ran her hand across her neckline) with this gold dress.

 Well, normally I don’t immediately go to pearls for children. However, a week later as I was styling the session and pulling all the accessories together – I stopped for a minute and thought.  I wondered if I have pearls in my magical collection.

As I opened my client jewelry box collection - I saw them.  It brought tears to my eyes.  Did I have pearls?  Oh, indeed I do.

Three different stands from 3 generations in my family.

• The first and darker strand came from my grandmother (on my father’s side) – one of the very few material things I still have from her.  She was one of the strongest women I’ve ever known.
• The second strand and a little larger pearl were from my mother’s treasures. I rarely saw her wear them but I knew how special they were to her. She always told me everywoman should acquire 3 special things in life, a mink coat to keep warm on the coldest of times, a diamond from the man she loves and a strand of pearls to remind you how important you are to others.
• The third strand was mine – a gift from my father.  My dad loved jewelry and he loved giving it as gifts. They always had a special meaning. When I was sixteen, he gave them to me and told me they were to remind me that I would always be a symbol of confidence to others.  He told me that pearls are a sign of prestige and personal strength.  He said he could not think of a more fitting gift for me on my 16^th birthday. 

As I held these pearls in my hands, I was a bit emotional thinking of how the extraordinary sessions that I’m doing for children and women are designed to help them feel all those things…strong, important, confident, and a prestigious life to be valued and loved.

Everything I do comes from a deeper place in my heart than just a portrait session… I believe in the power of imagery and I am blessed to be able to continue creating impactful imagery for my client – to be adored and cherished for many generations.

Thank you, little Caroline, for getting me to …look…