thank you so much for having Matt so excited to be here I’m Kate Parker I’m
excited to be here I’m Kate Parker I’m
excited to be here I’m Kate Parker I’m from Atlanta
from Atlanta
from Atlanta I am a commercial photographer and I
I am a commercial photographer and I
I am a commercial photographer and I shoot for clients like REI or Walgreens
shoot for clients like REI or Walgreens
shoot for clients like REI or Walgreens Kroger stuff like that but I also really
Kroger stuff like that but I also really
Kroger stuff like that but I also really love to shoot personal projects projects
love to shoot personal projects projects
love to shoot personal projects projects that move me projects that inspire me
that move me projects that inspire me
that move me projects that inspire me I’m a mom I have two girls who are eight
I’m a mom I have two girls who are eight
I’m a mom I have two girls who are eight and 11 and like any parent I shoot my
and 11 and like any parent I shoot my
and 11 and like any parent I shoot my kids all the time I’m just a parent with
kids all the time I’m just a parent with
kids all the time I’m just a parent with like three camera bodies and a giant bag
like three camera bodies and a giant bag
like three camera bodies and a giant bag of lenses and I noticed that the images
of lenses and I noticed that the images
of lenses and I noticed that the images that were the strongest of my girls were
that were the strongest of my girls were
that were the strongest of my girls were the ones where they were being
the ones where they were being
the ones where they were being themselves and for my girls that meant
themselves and for my girls that meant
themselves and for my girls that meant dirty a lot of times running around they
dirty a lot of times running around they
dirty a lot of times running around they were fierce they were confident they
were fierce they were confident they
were fierce they were confident they weren’t necessarily smiling for the
weren’t necessarily smiling for the
weren’t necessarily smiling for the camera like Alice this is my girl and I
camera like Alice this is my girl and I
camera like Alice this is my girl and I wanted to show that I wanted to do that
wanted to show that I wanted to do that
wanted to show that I wanted to do that let them know that that was okay and so
let them know that that was okay and so
let them know that that was okay and so outlets at Alice she’s still a temper
outlets at Alice she’s still a temper
outlets at Alice she’s still a temper she takes that for her mommy in that way
she takes that for her mommy in that way
she takes that for her mommy in that way and I was trying to capture what was
and I was trying to capture what was
and I was trying to capture what was going on in our lives I was trying to
going on in our lives I was trying to
going on in our lives I was trying to capture the good like when the Sun
capture the good like when the Sun
capture the good like when the Sun shines and you get to dance with your
shines and you get to dance with your
shines and you get to dance with your dog and I was also trying to capture the
dog and I was also trying to capture the
dog and I was also trying to capture the bad you know when you’re trying to learn
bad you know when you’re trying to learn
bad you know when you’re trying to learn the roller skate and you’re like seven
the roller skate and you’re like seven
the roller skate and you’re like seven years old it looks so easy but you spend
years old it looks so easy but you spend
years old it looks so easy but you spend 98 percent of your time like on your
98 percent of your time like on your
98 percent of your time like on your butt I pictured like this all the time
butt I pictured like this all the time
butt I pictured like this all the time this is my girls and their friends
this is my girls and their friends
this is my girls and their friends swimming and I still do I think it’s
swimming and I still do I think it’s
swimming and I still do I think it’s really good practice for me as a
really good practice for me as a
really good practice for me as a photographer to try to remain creative
photographer to try to remain creative
photographer to try to remain creative within a box and that box being my girls
within a box and that box being my girls
within a box and that box being my girls their friends where we live and shooting
their friends where we live and shooting
their friends where we live and shooting all the time inspired me to create a
all the time inspired me to create a
all the time inspired me to create a photography project and movement called
photography project and movement called
photography project and movement called strong is a new pretty it all started
strong is a new pretty it all started
strong is a new pretty it all started because I was asked to be part of a
because I was asked to be part of a
because I was asked to be part of a gallery show here in Atlanta and I had
gallery show here in Atlanta and I had
gallery show here in Atlanta and I had to call from thousands and thousands and
to call from thousands and thousands and
to call from thousands and thousands and years and years of images to find the 20
years and years of images to find the 20
years and years of images to find the 20 strongest images that told a story and I
strongest images that told a story and I
strongest images that told a story and I found
found
found those images where were the ones where
those images where were the ones where
those images where were the ones where the girls were being themselves and they
the girls were being themselves and they
the girls were being themselves and they were confident they were fearless they
were confident they were fearless they
were confident they were fearless they were strong and they were powerful and
were strong and they were powerful and
were strong and they were powerful and so I started to make that my goal I
so I started to make that my goal I
so I started to make that my goal I wanted to shoot that way I wanted to
wanted to shoot that way I wanted to
wanted to shoot that way I wanted to show that side of the girls so like I
show that side of the girls so like I
show that side of the girls so like I said I shoot all the time when we travel
said I shoot all the time when we travel
said I shoot all the time when we travel and we see new places when we get lucky
and we see new places when we get lucky
and we see new places when we get lucky enough that they are cleaning the fire
enough that they are cleaning the fire
enough that they are cleaning the fire hydrants on a summer day here in Atlanta
hydrants on a summer day here in Atlanta
hydrants on a summer day here in Atlanta I shot fierce images this I call this
I shot fierce images this I call this
I shot fierce images this I call this daughters of anarchy you know the TV
daughters of anarchy you know the TV
daughters of anarchy you know the TV show
show
show I shot feisty images the good the bad
I shot feisty images the good the bad
I shot feisty images the good the bad the ugly even lice it’s awful if you’ve
the ugly even lice it’s awful if you’ve
the ugly even lice it’s awful if you’ve ever been through that I shot you know
ever been through that I shot you know
ever been through that I shot you know everyday life that sounded it makes when
everyday life that sounded it makes when
everyday life that sounded it makes when you talking to a fan you sound like a
you talking to a fan you sound like a
you talking to a fan you sound like a robot the agony of defeat
robot the agony of defeat
robot the agony of defeat we’ve probably spent $400 at this one
we’ve probably spent $400 at this one
we’ve probably spent $400 at this one call game and Taco Mac we have nothing
call game and Taco Mac we have nothing
call game and Taco Mac we have nothing to stand for it
to stand for it
to stand for it I shot hopeful images images that show
I shot hopeful images images that show
I shot hopeful images images that show rule breaking we’re not really supposed
rule breaking we’re not really supposed
rule breaking we’re not really supposed to flip on the beds in our house but
to flip on the beds in our house but
to flip on the beds in our house but it’s fluid
it’s fluid
it’s fluid if I think the light is pretty enough
if I think the light is pretty enough
if I think the light is pretty enough going a little bit overboard with
going a little bit overboard with
going a little bit overboard with calamine lotion everybody here knows you
calamine lotion everybody here knows you
calamine lotion everybody here knows you know that mosquitoes can be pretty tough
know that mosquitoes can be pretty tough
know that mosquitoes can be pretty tough my goal with these images was to capture
my goal with these images was to capture
my goal with these images was to capture the true spirit of the girls that that
the true spirit of the girls that that
the true spirit of the girls that that that were my girls and the girls that I
that were my girls and the girls that I
that were my girls and the girls that I knew I wasn’t trying to change it or
knew I wasn’t trying to change it or
knew I wasn’t trying to change it or alter it in too many ways I wanted to
alter it in too many ways I wanted to
alter it in too many ways I wanted to capture the strength and the confidence
capture the strength and the confidence
capture the strength and the confidence and the power that I saw in my girls and
and the power that I saw in my girls and
and the power that I saw in my girls and all of their friends and I wasn’t really
all of their friends and I wasn’t really
all of their friends and I wasn’t really seeing it in in what was reflected back
seeing it in in what was reflected back
seeing it in in what was reflected back to us I wasn’t seeing this kind of
to us I wasn’t seeing this kind of
to us I wasn’t seeing this kind of representation of girls enough and this
representation of girls enough and this
representation of girls enough and this is the determination and the confidence
is the determination and the confidence
is the determination and the confidence that comes with an undefeated soccer
that comes with an undefeated soccer
that comes with an undefeated soccer season I coached these girls and I saw
season I coached these girls and I saw
season I coached these girls and I saw the power that they had and when my
the power that they had and when my
the power that they had and when my girls and I would watch TV or read
girls and I would watch TV or read
girls and I would watch TV or read magazines or go to the movies the women
magazines or go to the movies the women
magazines or go to the movies the women that and the girls that we saw reflected
that and the girls that we saw reflected
that and the girls that we saw reflected back to us they didn’t look like this
back to us they didn’t look like this
back to us they didn’t look like this they didn’t act like us they there
they didn’t act like us they there
they didn’t act like us they there era was perfect and you know their
era was perfect and you know their
era was perfect and you know their makeup was done and they were smiling
makeup was done and they were smiling
makeup was done and they were smiling and happy all the time
and happy all the time
and happy all the time it wasn’t reality I mean at least it
it wasn’t reality I mean at least it
it wasn’t reality I mean at least it wasn’t our reality we saw stuff like
wasn’t our reality we saw stuff like
wasn’t our reality we saw stuff like this and if you look at these two
this and if you look at these two
this and if you look at these two magazines you probably get angry like I
magazines you probably get angry like I
magazines you probably get angry like I did like if you look at the girls Life
did like if you look at the girls Life
did like if you look at the girls Life magazine how to wake up pretty how to
magazine how to wake up pretty how to
magazine how to wake up pretty how to fix your dream hair versus boys life
fix your dream hair versus boys life
fix your dream hair versus boys life explore your future boys and here when
explore your future boys and here when
explore your future boys and here when we went shopping the girls babies I hate
we went shopping the girls babies I hate
we went shopping the girls babies I hate my thighs versus I’m super for boys and
my thighs versus I’m super for boys and
my thighs versus I’m super for boys and I only date heroes versus I am a
I only date heroes versus I am a
I only date heroes versus I am a superhero and this last one building
superhero and this last one building
superhero and this last one building sets versus girls building sets
sets versus girls building sets
sets versus girls building sets I don’t think toys should have a gender
I don’t think toys should have a gender
I don’t think toys should have a gender and all of this made me angry and it
and all of this made me angry and it
and all of this made me angry and it made me angry enough to do something
made me angry enough to do something
made me angry enough to do something about it I didn’t want my girls growing
about it I didn’t want my girls growing
about it I didn’t want my girls growing up thinking that their worth was
up thinking that their worth was
up thinking that their worth was determined by what their hair looked
determined by what their hair looked
determined by what their hair looked like in the morning the size of their
like in the morning the size of their
like in the morning the size of their top thighs or what she to pink that
top thighs or what she to pink that
top thighs or what she to pink that their toys came in so I started to
their toys came in so I started to
their toys came in so I started to really intently shoot more and more
really intently shoot more and more
really intently shoot more and more trying to capture that spirit and that
trying to capture that spirit and that
trying to capture that spirit and that that power that I saw in my girls and
that power that I saw in my girls and
that power that I saw in my girls and yes sometimes it meant pretending soccer
yes sometimes it meant pretending soccer
yes sometimes it meant pretending soccer balls were there pregnant bellies but
balls were there pregnant bellies but
balls were there pregnant bellies but that’s what it is and so you know that
that’s what it is and so you know that
that’s what it is and so you know that gallery show that I talked about before
gallery show that I talked about before
gallery show that I talked about before here in Atlanta it was a huge bust I
here in Atlanta it was a huge bust I
here in Atlanta it was a huge bust I didn’t sell a single image and I I got
didn’t sell a single image and I I got
didn’t sell a single image and I I got angry and then I got like disappointed
angry and then I got like disappointed
angry and then I got like disappointed and I was like Oh what was me my work
and I was like Oh what was me my work
and I was like Oh what was me my work isn’t any good and then I kind of got
isn’t any good and then I kind of got
isn’t any good and then I kind of got like I got angry because I again it’s
like I got angry because I again it’s
like I got angry because I again it’s kind of like this up and down for me but
kind of like this up and down for me but
kind of like this up and down for me but I got mad and I thought you know what
I got mad and I thought you know what
I got mad and I thought you know what there’s worse there’s something in these
there’s worse there’s something in these
there’s worse there’s something in these images there’s something worthwhile
images there’s something worthwhile
images there’s something worthwhile and so I packaged up the images and sent
and so I packaged up the images and sent
and so I packaged up the images and sent them to a few blogs that I followed just
them to a few blogs that I followed just
them to a few blogs that I followed just because I thought there was a message
because I thought there was a message
because I thought there was a message there and from that the images went
there and from that the images went
there and from that the images went viral they were seen and shared millions
viral they were seen and shared millions
viral they were seen and shared millions of times they were on BuzzFeed and CNN
of times they were on BuzzFeed and CNN
of times they were on BuzzFeed and CNN Today Show I was so thankful and so
Today Show I was so thankful and so
Today Show I was so thankful and so happy that I was not the only one that
happy that I was not the only one that
happy that I was not the only one that thought girls needed to hear this
thought girls needed to hear this
thought girls needed to hear this message and from that little bit of
message and from that little bit of
message and from that little bit of viral stuff that was honestly very
viral stuff that was honestly very
viral stuff that was honestly very stressful I had an opportunity to create
stressful I had an opportunity to create
stressful I had an opportunity to create a book
a book
a book for me it wasn’t my intention but it
for me it wasn’t my intention but it
for me it wasn’t my intention but it made perfect sense that there was
made perfect sense that there was
made perfect sense that there was something that could be concrete and
something that could be concrete and
something that could be concrete and long-lasting and that you could have on
long-lasting and that you could have on
long-lasting and that you could have on your table you could give it to girls
your table you could give it to girls
your table you could give it to girls that you thought needed to hear this
that you thought needed to hear this
that you thought needed to hear this message and I looked at that book as
message and I looked at that book as
message and I looked at that book as this amazing opportunity to expand the
this amazing opportunity to expand the
this amazing opportunity to expand the kind of strength that I was shooting
kind of strength that I was shooting
kind of strength that I was shooting which at its current state the project
which at its current state the project
which at its current state the project was really just suburban Atlanta girls
was really just suburban Atlanta girls
was really just suburban Atlanta girls and that represents only one sliver of
and that represents only one sliver of
and that represents only one sliver of the kind of strength and power that
the kind of strength and power that
the kind of strength and power that girls have so I really looked at it this
girls have so I really looked at it this
girls have so I really looked at it this chance to expand that and I spent the
chance to expand that and I spent the
chance to expand that and I spent the last two years traveling all over the
last two years traveling all over the
last two years traveling all over the country shooting all kinds of girls you
country shooting all kinds of girls you
country shooting all kinds of girls you know went East Coast West Coast Hawaii
know went East Coast West Coast Hawaii
know went East Coast West Coast Hawaii Midwest Texas everywhere and I shot
Midwest Texas everywhere and I shot
Midwest Texas everywhere and I shot girls who inspire girls who persevere
girls who inspire girls who persevere
girls who inspire girls who persevere and my goal was to capture and pass
and my goal was to capture and pass
and my goal was to capture and pass along the values that my parents who are
along the values that my parents who are
along the values that my parents who are here taught me that your value it does
here taught me that your value it does
here taught me that your value it does not reside and what you look like it
not reside and what you look like it
not reside and what you look like it doesn’t matter what your hair looks like
doesn’t matter what your hair looks like
doesn’t matter what your hair looks like it’s and who you are what you do and how
it’s and who you are what you do and how
it’s and who you are what you do and how you act and that was what I was trying
you act and that was what I was trying
you act and that was what I was trying to pass along to my girls and so strong
to pass along to my girls and so strong
to pass along to my girls and so strong as the new pretty was born and yeah
as the new pretty was born and yeah
as the new pretty was born and yeah strong has always been pretty this is
strong has always been pretty this is
strong has always been pretty this is not new but what is new are pressures
not new but what is new are pressures
not new but what is new are pressures that our girls face today with the
that our girls face today with the
that our girls face today with the internet and photoshopped everything and
internet and photoshopped everything and
internet and photoshopped everything and filtered there’s this pressure and this
filtered there’s this pressure and this
filtered there’s this pressure and this expectation to be perfect and everything
expectation to be perfect and everything
expectation to be perfect and everything to look perfect and I think as adults we
to look perfect and I think as adults we
to look perfect and I think as adults we can understand that that’s not true but
can understand that that’s not true but
can understand that that’s not true but I wanted looked at this book and look at
I wanted looked at this book and look at
I wanted looked at this book and look at this movement as an opportunity to
this movement as an opportunity to
this movement as an opportunity to present some truth to girls to present a
present some truth to girls to present a
present some truth to girls to present a reality that you know that girls look
reality that you know that girls look
reality that you know that girls look this way they act this way girls do
this way they act this way girls do
this way they act this way girls do these things rather than what you know
these things rather than what you know
these things rather than what you know what 99% was given to them already one
what 99% was given to them already one
what 99% was given to them already one thing as I was going through and I was
thing as I was going through and I was
thing as I was going through and I was shooting all kinds of girls and I was
shooting all kinds of girls and I was
shooting all kinds of girls and I was shooting really successful girls girls
shooting really successful girls girls
shooting really successful girls girls that were excelling they were at the top
that were excelling they were at the top
that were excelling they were at the top of whatever their passions were like I
of whatever their passions were like I
of whatever their passions were like I shot pilot I shot musicians I shot
shot pilot I shot musicians I shot
shot pilot I shot musicians I shot athletes and I noticed the thread in all
athletes and I noticed the thread in all
athletes and I noticed the thread in all of them all of the girls that were
of them all of the girls that were
of them all of the girls that were succeeding all of the girls that were
succeeding all of the girls that were
succeeding all of the girls that were doing well and all the girls that had
doing well and all the girls that had
doing well and all the girls that had had God have gotten to the top of where
had God have gotten to the top of where
had God have gotten to the top of where they were they weren’t the most talented
they were they weren’t the most talented
they were they weren’t the most talented necessarily the thing about those girls
necessarily the thing about those girls
necessarily the thing about those girls was that they had grit they didn’t give
was that they had grit they didn’t give
was that they had grit they didn’t give up they didn’t take no for an answer
up they didn’t take no for an answer
up they didn’t take no for an answer they kept doing something after people
they kept doing something after people
they kept doing something after people told them that they shouldn’t do it or
told them that they shouldn’t do it or
told them that they shouldn’t do it or that it wasn’t okay I also wanted girls
that it wasn’t okay I also wanted girls
that it wasn’t okay I also wanted girls with this book and this project – no –
with this book and this project – no –
with this book and this project – no – you can’t dream something necessarily if
you can’t dream something necessarily if
you can’t dream something necessarily if you’ve never see it like Maddie said I
you’ve never see it like Maddie said I
you’ve never see it like Maddie said I never met a female firefighter before
never met a female firefighter before
never met a female firefighter before now I know it’s possible I also wanted
now I know it’s possible I also wanted
now I know it’s possible I also wanted girls to see possibilities I wanted them
girls to see possibilities I wanted them
girls to see possibilities I wanted them to know that they could start a band if
to know that they could start a band if
to know that they could start a band if they wanted to they could wrestle the
they wanted to they could wrestle the
they wanted to they could wrestle the boys and win most of their matches they
boys and win most of their matches they
boys and win most of their matches they could think they’re awesome say they’re
could think they’re awesome say they’re
could think they’re awesome say they’re awesome say they’re awesome in a book
awesome say they’re awesome in a book
awesome say they’re awesome in a book and that’s amazing that you don’t have
and that’s amazing that you don’t have
and that’s amazing that you don’t have to be clean or even close to be clean to
to be clean or even close to be clean to
to be clean or even close to be clean to be beautiful that you can pursue your
be beautiful that you can pursue your
be beautiful that you can pursue your dreams no matter what challenges life
dreams no matter what challenges life
dreams no matter what challenges life puts in your way the notion that girls
puts in your way the notion that girls
puts in your way the notion that girls are not good at math and science giant
are not good at math and science giant
are not good at math and science giant lie that girls do not support one
lie that girls do not support one
lie that girls do not support one another and their caddy is not true that
another and their caddy is not true that
another and their caddy is not true that the sky could literally be the limit and
the sky could literally be the limit and
the sky could literally be the limit and the idea that valedictorians are just
the idea that valedictorians are just
the idea that valedictorians are just smart in books and academics is just the
smart in books and academics is just the
smart in books and academics is just the tip of the iceberg
tip of the iceberg
tip of the iceberg I wanted girls to know that they it’s
I wanted girls to know that they it’s
I wanted girls to know that they it’s okay to be loud and in-your-face and
okay to be loud and in-your-face and
okay to be loud and in-your-face and that’s okay that’s not just okay it’s
that’s okay that’s not just okay it’s
that’s okay that’s not just okay it’s encouraged there is a strength and a
encouraged there is a strength and a
encouraged there is a strength and a power in knowing your emotions and being
power in knowing your emotions and being
power in knowing your emotions and being able to express them and that strength
able to express them and that strength
able to express them and that strength can present itself in so many different
can present itself in so many different
can present itself in so many different ways this is Lauren I shot Lauren and
ways this is Lauren I shot Lauren and
ways this is Lauren I shot Lauren and she came to my studio and she’s
she came to my studio and she’s
she came to my studio and she’s literally was trailing trailing glitter
literally was trailing trailing glitter
literally was trailing trailing glitter and had princess dress like with taffeta
and had princess dress like with taffeta
and had princess dress like with taffeta and high heels and Lauren her quote says
and high heels and Lauren her quote says
and high heels and Lauren her quote says even a princess can be a warrior my
even a princess can be a warrior my
even a princess can be a warrior my cancer didn’t stand a chance
cancer didn’t stand a chance
cancer didn’t stand a chance strong is not always you know tomboys
strong is not always you know tomboys
strong is not always you know tomboys and making a muscle and dirt strong ed
and making a muscle and dirt strong ed
and making a muscle and dirt strong ed Lauren overcoming her cancer through
Lauren overcoming her cancer through
Lauren overcoming her cancer through chemotherapy and surgeries to
chemotherapy and surgeries to
chemotherapy and surgeries to sascha in my studio with a completely
sascha in my studio with a completely
sascha in my studio with a completely positive attitude this I think this is
positive attitude this I think this is
positive attitude this I think this is my favorite picture and quote in the
my favorite picture and quote in the
my favorite picture and quote in the book and this is Leslie Leslie said many
book and this is Leslie Leslie said many
book and this is Leslie Leslie said many girls grew up dreaming of a hero to save
girls grew up dreaming of a hero to save
girls grew up dreaming of a hero to save them
them
them I grew up dreaming of becoming one and I
I grew up dreaming of becoming one and I
I grew up dreaming of becoming one and I just think that’s so telling at 18
just think that’s so telling at 18
just think that’s so telling at 18 justify like 18 years of fairy tales and
justify like 18 years of fairy tales and
justify like 18 years of fairy tales and princess stories of girls being
princess stories of girls being
princess stories of girls being inundated with this message someone will
inundated with this message someone will
inundated with this message someone will save them Leslie rejected that and more
save them Leslie rejected that and more
save them Leslie rejected that and more so she was strong enough to know others
so she was strong enough to know others
so she was strong enough to know others needed her help Leslie for sure is my
needed her help Leslie for sure is my
needed her help Leslie for sure is my hero strong as a new pretty is about
hero strong as a new pretty is about
hero strong as a new pretty is about giving power to girls and finding out
giving power to girls and finding out
giving power to girls and finding out what’s important to girls supporting
what’s important to girls supporting
what’s important to girls supporting them in that and figuring out helping
them in that and figuring out helping
them in that and figuring out helping girls figure out what is unique about
girls figure out what is unique about
girls figure out what is unique about them and celebrating that even when
them and celebrating that even when
them and celebrating that even when others question it and finding out who
others question it and finding out who
others question it and finding out who you are and pursuing that 100% really
you are and pursuing that 100% really
you are and pursuing that 100% really the goal in the message here so that as
the goal in the message here so that as
the goal in the message here so that as strong as a new pretty thank you very
strong as a new pretty thank you very
strong as a new pretty thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
”
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