Seems like one of the most overlooked times to photograph our children is that stage between being a little kid & hitting that teenage phase. After all, when they are newborns/toddlers, seems like they are changing every day......or every minute, actually! Then around age l2 everyone........especially the young, soon to be teen............is waiting for that passage into that stage where being a teen comes with lots & lots of perks (i.e. freedom to make some decisions on their own!). On the other hand, I love photographing this stage. They are still open to the world, sweet & still willing to "enjoy the moment".  AND they still like the grownups & don't yet think we're totally uncool! In fact, from a photography standpoint, it seems this is the most beautiful stage of all to capture the essence of their personality. I like photographing the preteen free of props and too many other distractions. (With little kids we REALLY need all that to get their attention!) At this stage I want to fully capture that face, those eyes and how they see the world.

So much for that stereotype that the pre-teen stage comes with awkwardness & braces, eh? If you have a pre-teen, don't let this fleeting moment of life go unnoticed!