Missing Teeth

When I was a young child, my maternal grandpa took our portraits every year. He was an amazing professional baby photographer and loved to capture the fleeting moments of childhood. My mom made sure that when we were missing teeth that we smiled really big to show off the gaping hole in our row of pearly whites. I remember feeling somewhat proud and grinning very widely. I felt like I was growing up because I was getting my “adult” teeth. Now, looking back at those photos, I can’t help but remember those emotions as if they were yesterday.

Now, as I photograph de-toothed children around the ages of 5-10, I love to get at least one or two photos of the breezy smile. I want the child to grow up and to look at those photos and remember exactly when in their life it was taken. I want them to feel like they are still connected to that time when being an adult was simply equated with a missing tooth.

Here is one I took recently of a little six year old -who could whistle better than a steaming locomotive.

 Trista