Photographer Kate Parker's project "Strong is the New Pretty" reveals her two daughters and their friends as they discover who they are -- which is often messy, loud, excited, intense and always strong. Parker shot this image of her daughter, Ella, the night before her first triathlon, when she was feeling nervous. Parker wanted to show her that even when she's afraid, she's strong.
Photographer Kate Parker's project "Strong is the New Pretty" reveals her two daughters and their friends as they discover who they are -- which is often messy, loud, excited, intense and always strong. Parker shot this image of her daughter, Ella, the night before her first triathlon, when she was feeling nervous. Parker wanted to show her that even when she's afraid, she's strong.
courtesy Kate T. Parker
Ella, 9, holds her sister Alice, 6, after playing in the sprinkler. Alice's eyes are bloodshot from opening her eyes in the water, Parker said, and she wanted to keep it in the image. "It's a real person in there," she said.
Ella, 9, holds her sister Alice, 6, after playing in the sprinkler. Alice's eyes are bloodshot from opening her eyes in the water, Parker said, and she wanted to keep it in the image. "It's a real person in there," she said.
courtesy Kate T. Parker
Parker shot this image while her best friend held her underwater. "My best friend and I played soccer together in college and coach together now," Parker said. "I want my girls to be like these girls that I grew up with in college."
Parker shot this image while her best friend held her underwater. "My best friend and I played soccer together in college and coach together now," Parker said. "I want my girls to be like these girls that I grew up with in college."
courtesy Kate T. Parker
Parker captured this image of her daughter, Ella, playing with glitter. It captures who she she is, Parker said.
Parker captured this image of her daughter, Ella, playing with glitter. It captures who she she is, Parker said.
courtesy Kate T. Parker
The images in "Strong is the New Pretty" are meant to inspire kids -- and their parents -- to be whoever they are, whether that means loud and athletic, quiet and artistic or anything in between. The images so far capture her girls' reality, which often unfolds in a blur on the streets of their neighborhood near Atlanta.
The images in "Strong is the New Pretty" are meant to inspire kids -- and their parents -- to be whoever they are, whether that means loud and athletic, quiet and artistic or anything in between. The images so far capture her girls' reality, which often unfolds in a blur on the streets of their neighborhood near Atlanta.
courtesy Kate T. Parker
It was only after the girls and their friends asked to have the leaf blower turned on them that Parker thought to grab her camera. "I try to let them take the lead," Parker said.
It was only after the girls and their friends asked to have the leaf blower turned on them that Parker thought to grab her camera. "I try to let them take the lead," Parker said.
courtesy Kate T. Parker
The basketball hoop came home as a Father's Day gift, Parker said, but her husband isn't the only one who plays.
The basketball hoop came home as a Father's Day gift, Parker said, but her husband isn't the only one who plays.
courtesy Kate T. Parker
Parker and her husband encourage their girls to "go outside and play and get muddy, play soccer, do a triathlon, go jump in the bushes," she said. "That's one of their favorite games, literally, is jumping in the bushes."
Parker and her husband encourage their girls to "go outside and play and get muddy, play soccer, do a triathlon, go jump in the bushes," she said. "That's one of their favorite games, literally, is jumping in the bushes."
courtesy Kate T. Parker
Parker said her kids and their friends spend a lot of time exploring outdoors, something she encourages -- usually. "Do not get that thing near me," Parker said of the worm.
Parker said her kids and their friends spend a lot of time exploring outdoors, something she encourages -- usually. "Do not get that thing near me," Parker said of the worm.
courtesy Kate T. Parker
The minivan is "the bane of my existence," Parker said, but it's hard not to be excited about moments like this, when the family fetched its Christmas tree. Parker asked her girls to show them how they felt about it, and their dog, Scooter, played along.
The minivan is "the bane of my existence," Parker said, but it's hard not to be excited about moments like this, when the family fetched its Christmas tree. Parker asked her girls to show them how they felt about it, and their dog, Scooter, played along.
courtesy Kate T. Parker
Even for strong, athletic kids, learning to skate is tough. Parker said her girls had just pulled the pillows from their pants when they slipped and fell. "I caught this moment of 'I'm done,'" Parker said. "They tried their hardest. And a helmet with bunny ears on it helps."
Even for strong, athletic kids, learning to skate is tough. Parker said her girls had just pulled the pillows from their pants when they slipped and fell. "I caught this moment of 'I'm done,'" Parker said. "They tried their hardest. And a helmet with bunny ears on it helps."
courtesy Kate T. Parker
This is a typical moment from a snow day in Georgia, Parker said. The girls were playing under the dining room table, so Parker just stood on top of it and shot down, wondering, "When will school start again?"
This is a typical moment from a snow day in Georgia, Parker said. The girls were playing under the dining room table, so Parker just stood on top of it and shot down, wondering, "When will school start again?"
courtesy Kate T. Parker
Parker coaches her daughters' soccer teams. When she asked some players to show their toughest faces, they didn't have to think about it. They were ready.
Parker coaches her daughters' soccer teams. When she asked some players to show their toughest faces, they didn't have to think about it. They were ready.
courtesy Kate T. Parker