Mini Session Spotlight: Celebrating a New Taekwondo Belt
Every milestone deserves to be celebrated — and this one came with a kick.
Recently, I shot a mini-session for a young Taekwondo student who had just earned a new belt. His mom wanted to mark the moment with photos, and between her busy schedule (and an older sibling’s soccer game happening at the same time), we met outside the Avondale Sports Center to make it happen.
Working with kids is always an adventure. There’s an old Hollywood rule: “Never work with kids or dogs.” Well… I’ve never been great at following rules, and honestly, I love the challenge.
At first, he was nervous — totally normal when a camera is pointed your way. But with a little encouragement and some space to show off his Taekwondo moves, everything changed. The kicks started, the confidence followed, and then came the smile we were waiting for. That’s when the magic happens.
For parents, here’s my go-to advice:
Be gentle, make it fun, and let your kid lead the energy.
With younger children, I always try to shoot at their level — literally. I was kneeling the entire session to be eye-to-eye, though in this case he was still so tiny that even on my knees, I was taller! That’s the joy of working with kids: you never quite know what to expect, but you always come away with something real.
And here’s something I always tell parents:
I’ll work hard to get that perfect smile and pose — but some of the best photos are the silly ones.
Those real-life moments often say more about who your child truly is, and they’re the ones you’ll treasure most as they get older. For me, it’s about the energy, the expression, the cute little baby teeth.
For little ones, a 15-minute mini session is the perfect length. Kids tire out quickly, and short sessions keep things positive and playful.
It was a joy photographing this young martial artist, and his mom loved the final images. Moments like this remind me why I love what I do — small victories, big smiles, and memories families can hold onto forever.
