The relationship between a mother and her daughter is, in my humble opinion, the most beautiful bond. I have started this very special and very personal project to capture that bond, and all of the delicacy of the moments mothers and daughters share. Let me start with the inspiration for this project. My daughter changed my life. She is my one and only little girl.  She brought back spark and passion to my life.  In many ways, she brought my dad back into my life, as she reminds me so much of him. I often think about all the things I want to teach her, tell her, share with her. I believe in the importance of building strong girls who become strong women, so I think about the ways I must shape her experiences and perception of the strange world we live in.

by Powell Woulfe Photography www.powellwoulfe.com

“A mother’s treasure is her daughter.” – Catherine Pulsifer

by Powell Woulfe Photography www.powellwoulfe.com

by Powell Woulfe Photography www.powellwoulfe.com

I decided to start the Mother & Daughter Project (still working on an official title) as a way to share all these things rambling through my brain with my daughter, and the world. I’ll be photographing mothers and daughters to accompany some of my written words for my own daughter. Eventually, these will have their own website, maybe even a book.  It’s still a thought process. I will also be including some personal images from day-to-day life with my daughter.

My first phase of the project is to document mothers and daughters who are about the same age as my own little girl, and the things I think I would want myself to say to her now, if I were to look back 20 years from today. (Hmmm, did that make sense? I hope so.)

by Powell Woulfe Photography www.powellwoulfe.com

Some of the things I will wish I had said to her:

Thank you, for changing my life. I won’t say “saving my life”. That’s far too cliche. Thank you for showing me that mothers and daughters can love each other. Thank you for wanting me as much as I wanted you. Thank you, for every time  you challenge me, then reward me with a simple, “I love you, Mommy.”

Be whatever you want to be. If you want to be a princess, be a princess. If you want to be a teacher, be a teacher. If you want to be a photographer, be a photographer. Just be whatever you want to be with your whole heart, and don’t listen to the people who say you can’t BE.

by Powell Woulfe Photography www.powellwoulfe.com

I know there will be times you think I don’t love you, but I love you with every tiny bit of my heart and soul and life. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I want to protect you, watch you grow, and make you a better person than I have been. This is why I have my rules, get impatient, and sometimes, I do raise my voice. I hate myself when that happens, but I love you so much, I can’t help it.

I will always be here to listen, help you, and be your best friend. You can tell me anything, my darling. Never stop telling me everything.

You are beautiful. Ignore what everyone else thinks is beautiful. There is no one in the world as lovely as you are. You are brilliant. You are strong.

Soar, my beautiful, amazing little girl.

by Powell Woulfe Photography www.powellwoulfe.com

Thank you, Jessica and Clara, for allowing me to photograph these special moments between you. As you prepare for the next chapter in your family’s story, I know you will treasure these.  Thank you for permitting me to share in this time, and allowing me some creative license. 

Stay tuned for the next part of this project, coming very soon!

by Powell Woulfe Photography www.powellwoulfe.com