In 2011, I donated a photography session to a fundraising auction for Girls on the Run of Gaston County, which is an after-school program for 3rd through 8th grade girls. The program focuses on instilling self-esteem and strong values through health education, life skills development, mentoring relationships and physical training. I love the idea for this program and all the good it does in the home county where I grew up in North Carolina. (It is also run -- no pun intended -- by one of my "bonus" moms, who I think does great things for the community.) Fast forward to 2013: I finally got to meet and photograph the family that bid on my session! The Vaher family was so much fun to photograph, and I think we got some great images. Enjoy their smiles! : )
