One year it’s fairies.
Then it’s Minecraft.
Then it’s soccer, or animals, or a book series they can’t stop talking about.

Childhood has a way of changing right in front of us … sometimes so quickly we barely notice it happening.

And in the middle of all that change, there’s something steady and important trying to be seen:
what lights your child up right now.

These Aren’t “Just Phases”

It’s easy to think of children’s interests as something to wait out.

They’ll grow out of it.
This probably isn’t worth capturing.
We’ll do something special later.

But those interests, the ones that fill their conversations, spark their imagination, and make their eyes light up … they aren’t random.

They’re clues.

Clues to how your child sees the world.
To what excites them.
To who they are becoming.

And at this age, those clues change often. That’s not a reason to wait … it’s the reason this stage matters.

I understand this feeling deeply … not just as a photographer, but as a mom.

When I Realized What Her Portrait Should Really Capture

I remember when my daughter Eryn was 8 and completely immersed in Harry Potter. She walked through our house practicing spells, whispered incantations under her breath, and stayed up late reading with her light on. More than once, we had to sneak in at night just to remind her to sleep. One day, as we were talking about her next portrait session, she asked me a simple question: “Can I be a wizard in the studio?” And in that moment, something clicked. Her eight-year-old portrait shouldn’t just be Eryn in a cute outfit. It should be Eryn the wizard. That chapter of her childhood … her imagination, her obsession, the world she was living in … mattered. I wanted to remember not just what she looked like at eight, but who she was.

That one question changed everything for me. It inspired our very first Wizarding School Portrait Experiences in 2017, and over time, it transformed the way I saw childhood photography altogether. Since then, the passions have evolved … from wizards to dancers, athletes, readers, Minecraft kids, and now even K-Pop Demon Hunters … and that’s the beauty of childhood. Their loves change. Their interests grow. And each one deserves to be seen as part of the story we tell.

Today, Eryn is in college. And out of all the portraits we have of her, that one displayed on the wall where she is casting magic at my camera, still makes me smile the most. Because every time I see it, I don’t just see what she looked like at eight … I see the girl who believed in magic and trusted that anything was possible.

What “Wildest Dreams” Really Means Here

This isn’t about fantasy for fantasy’s sake.
And it’s not about creating a pretend version of your child.

When we talk about “wildest dreams,” we’re talking about what your child genuinely loves right now and giving that space to exist, grow, and be celebrated.

Sometimes that looks like:

• imaginary worlds and magical characters
• a favorite movie or book series
• a favorite video game, hobby or sport
• animals they can’t stop learning about or a pet that has become their best friend
• movement, creativity, or storytelling

The magic comes in when your child is invited into the process … when they help imagine what their portraits could look like, what details feel important to them, and how their world can come to life through the artwork.

That collaboration alone changes something.

They feel heard.
They feel important.
They feel like what they love matters.

When Artwork Lives in the Home

When this kind of artwork lives on your walls, it does something quietly powerful.

For you, as a parent, it brings:

• joy when you see how happy your child looks
• connection to what matters most to them right now
• pride, knowing you created space for your child to be fully themselves

It becomes a reminder that your child feels safe expressing who they are and that you’re paying attention.

For your child, the message is even quieter, but just as meaningful:

I am loved.
My parents care about what I care about.
I’m allowed to share my thoughts and interests here.
I won’t be shut down for what excites me.

In a world that constantly asks kids to fit in, perform, and conform, home becomes the place where they’re free to just be.

This Isn’t About Perfection or Practicality

Some parents hesitate because this doesn’t feel “necessary.”

They tell themselves:

• We can wait until a bigger birthday.
• We’ll do something like this when life is calmer.
• Is this really worth it right now?

But celebrating childhood isn’t about practicality.

It’s about recognizing that joy, imagination, and self-expression aren’t extras, they’re essential.

Waiting doesn’t make this stage more meaningful.
Seeing your child now does.

A Visual Timeline of Who They’ve Been

Over time, this artwork becomes part of a larger story.

A visual timeline on your walls that shows:

• who your child was at different ages
• how their interests evolved
• how consistently they were noticed and celebrated

Not frozen in time.
Not stuck in one version of themselves.

Just honored, again and again, as they grow.

Creating This Together

Our Childhood Magic Sessions are designed around this idea—celebrating what your child loves right now and turning that into artwork that lives with your family.
(You can explore more about those sessions [here].)

The experience isn’t about escaping real life.
It’s about seeing the magic that’s already there.

A Gentle Invitation

If something in this feels familiar—if you’re recognizing your own child in these words—we’d love to talk.

A Discovery Call is simply a calm conversation to explore what your child is passionate about right now and whether a Childhood Magic Session feels like the right fit for your family.

Let’s celebrate who they are, right now.