Project Background

The NOT Just A Girl Series started in May 2013 with my daughter, Emma's, 5th Birthday Portraits. From my blog, "I had been searching everywhere for new-creative inspiration for her 5yr pictures. I noticed quite a pattern of so many young girls dressing up as beautiful Disney Princesses; no matter where I looked, 95% of the “ideas” were the “How to’s” of dressing your little girl like a Disney Princess. Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Disney Princesses, from their beautiful dresses, perfect hair, gorgeous voices and most with ideal love stories in the mix, you can’t help but become entranced with the characters. But it got me thinking, they’re just characters, a writer's tale of a princess...…an unrealistic fantasy for most girls".

I was looking to make a change, do something different that we (Emma and I) could both enjoy. "It started me thinking about all the REAL women for my daughter to know about and look up too, REAL women who without ever meeting Emma have changed her life for the better. My daughter wasn’t born into royalty, but she was born into a country where she can now vote, become a doctor, a pilot, an astronaut, or even President if she wants and that’s what REALLY matters. I wanted her to know the value of these amazing women who had gone against everything so she can now have everything".

This shoot was not just a birthday photo session but also a learning experience with the added fun of dress up keeping Emma engaged and excited to know more about these incredible women she was portraying. "We chose 5 women (five amazing and strong women), as it was her 5th birthday but there are thousands of unbelievable women (and girls) who have beat the odds and fought (and still fight) for their equal rights all over the world……..so let’s set aside the Barbie Dolls and the Disney Princesses for just a moment, and let’s show our girls the REAL women they can be."

For full blog post and photos please see original link here: http://www.jaimemoorephotography.com/2013/05/09/not-just-a-girl/

Where to go from here

Since sharing Emma's series we have received hundreds of letters, calls, emails and messages from women and men all over the world. Many have written about who they looked up to as a child and how it influenced their lives. Hundreds of amazing parents have written how inspired they feel to now share with their children the stories/biographies of women (and men) of the past who have beaten the odds to better their lives.

The Goal

We would like to expand the series by photographing dozens of girls while reaching out to any and all ethnicity, culture and women of inspiration from all over the world. To accomplish this, we need your help.

Funding will go towards, studio equipment, costumes, time, props, legal fees, copyright releases ( and/or permissions) and research. If we reach our goal and continue the project we would also love to start a book showcasing the images and inspirational quotes.

With your help we will expand the project continuing inspiration & remembrance of such incredible, REAL individuals who have fought and changed our lives (and our children's lives) for the better. Reminding us to aim high and reach for what was once impossible.

Please spread word of this campaign by using the share tools or copying the link. Thank you!