Little Girl in the Prairie

Sep 2, 2017
2 min read

For the first year of Marie's life, I did a photoshoot for her every week. Most of them were fairly simple as time went on, sometimes with more creative ones each month.

After she turned one, however, without a scheduled session, not only did I not do them, but I rarely took her picture other than, I will admit, on my phone.

When my sister came back from a trip out west, she brought a bonnet. We loved Little House on the Prairie growing up, and it reminded us of it. It was smaller than we expected, though. "You'll have to do a photoshoot with Marie," she said. "Before she outgrows it too much."

In the midst of moving, photo shoots were not high on my list. So finally last week I decided to use a day with nothing scheduled and no pressing projects to take Marie to a park.

I wanted something that looked prairie-ish. So I did a search, and when I saw Sylvan Prairie Park, that seemed promising.

I'd never been there, but the pictures online looked like what I was looking for, and it was close. So we loaded up and went over.

I was worried about the sun, as it was nearing 11 and bright and sunny overhead - not actually the best photo-taking conditions. So I started in the shade, and thankfully I was happily surprised with how they turned out when I did venture into the bright sun.

Marie didn't want to get out of her stroller, which she loves, but she did well when I got her out, especially when I found some flowers for her.

Until we tried the grass.

She was not a fan and whined for me to take her.

So we got out a blanket and her banana, and eventually she acclimated to the location.

When I asked her where her toes were, this is what she did:

After a while, she thought it was fun to climb on me, which makes getting good pictures somewhat difficult.

Every time I laid her in the grass, she would half-close her eyes, even though I blocked the sun.

When we left the grassy side of the road, I intended to leave, but then I saw this flower-lined path, and we had to stop.

I didn't think she'd be happy if I put her down and walked away from her, so I casually walked along the path, looking at the flowers and running my hand over them, and as hoped, she imitated me.

The smelling of the flowers was entirely unprompted, however.

Again, I intended to leave, but then I saw this fence and stone wall and had to stop.

She was distracted by a man preparing for a bike ride.

She did great with her bonnet, as she's obsessed with hats, one of her first words. When I ask her where her hat is, she says, "'At! 'At!" and pats it.