Intermission: You’ve Never Seen Childhood Photos Like These

If there was an award for “Most Creative Dad,” it would go straight to Jason Lee, whose daughters have bragging rights to the coolest collection of childhood photos we’ve ever seen. Since 2006, Lee’s been posting delightfully creative photos onto a blog devoted entirely his two daughters, Kristin and Kayla. Lee not only posts whimsical and adorable photos of his girls, finding clever ways to celebrate everything from holidays to Angry Birds, but also shares gorgeous portraits from significant events in their lives. For more of Lee’s work, check out his Flickr page.   

GOOD: What inspired you to create your blog in 2006?

JASON LEE: In 2006, my mother was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The girls were constantly sick, with colds and coughs so I couldn’t always bring them to visit her. I started a blog as a way to keep my mom up-to-date with things that were going on in their lives, and hoping to cheer her up with pictures. It kind of just grew from there, and as the kids got older and crazier, so did some of the pictures.

GOOD: What’s your general creative process?

Lee: I come up with ideas based on things the girls do or say. It can be anything from activities they are involved in, to day-to-day life. I try to pre-visualize before any shooting takes place. 

GOOD: Do you have any personal favorites?

LEE: One of my favorite images is of them enjoying their first sunset at the beach. I remember vividly the moments leading up to the sunset, as the girls had never actually sat still long enough to appreciate something like this. They sat there in awe, and we counted down the moments as the sun set.  

GOOD: How long does each shoot generally take?

LEE: Shooting only takes a minute or two, and setup takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes per shoot. Some shoots take longer than others, setting up lighting and props take the longest. 

GOOD: Have parents asked you to take photos of their kids after seeing your photos? Any plans to move that direction?

LEE: I definitely get interest in these creative sessions, and have photographed other kids (and adults). I really enjoy weddings at this time, but who knows what the future will bring.