Over the years that I have been shooting professionally, I have noticed a huge drop in portraits of kids in the age range of about nine through sixteen. They aren't quite little kids anymore, but they aren't in that young adult stage quite yet.

The childhood milestones have passed but it's not yet time for senior portraits. They can become somewhat invisible during this time. I have also noticed that while other cultures across history have offered ceremonies, or titles, or other right-of-passage experiences for kids during this time of transition, we don't really have anything like that.

I thought that a project like this would be an incredible way to create that for our youth. A turning point, a process, an image that announces to the world that they are no longer children, that fortifies them as they navigate this journey to adulthood. Giving them a visual representation of how awesome they are, that they can look upon as a reminder, as a confidence-booster, giving them this memory - I just think it's a life-changing experience for kids this age.