Emy, 12
Emy, age 12, first came to Josh Beaton Photography seeking headshots to apply for a role as a TV extra.
Emerlyn Deck is destined for greatness.
At just four months old, her fragile 12-pound body survived a magnitude 7.0 earthquake as she lay in an orphanage outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Emerlyn, who goes by Emy, was brand new to the world when her island of birth was devastated by the worst natural disaster the country had ever experienced. All around her, structures collapsed and hundreds of thousands of people perished. An estimated one million survivors lost their homes along with access to food and water. In the chaos and desperation, looting ensued and thousands of newly orphaned children were left vulnerable to abuse and human trafficking. Thankfully, Emy had a different fate.
Before the earthquake, newborn Emy and her almost 2-year-old brother, Tyler, were in the process of being adopted by Chris Deck, a 38-year-old woman in Illinois. Haiti is one of the few countries that permits single-parent adoptions. In light of the tragedy, many matched children were granted refugee status. This expedited the Deck family’s slow-moving paperwork process and within days of the disaster, Emy and Tyler were on a plane to Miami being escorted by the U.S. military.
The trauma lingered in those early days.
“She didn’t smile for many months,” recalls her mom, Chris. “She was adjusting to the new surroundings and looked to her brother for comfort. Whenever Tyler was within arm’s reach, Emy would place her tiny hand on his as if to say, ‘I’m here. We have each other.’ They were closely bonded.”
As a baby, Emy often placed her hand on brother Tyler for comfort.
Eventually, Emy did begin smiling. By age 3, she had fully emerged from her shell. Her spunky energy commanded every room and made others around her light up with laughter. This cheerful, confident version of Emy lasted through fourth grade. Then, her mom noticed an abrupt change.
“Her light started to dim around age 10,” explains Chris. “She exhibited all the typical signs of a pre-teen girl. She didn’t seem as sure of herself and grew quieter. We found Josh Beaton Photography at the exact right time.”
Last year, a 12-year-old Emy expressed an interest in becoming a television extra. Her godmother, Laura, was eager to make this a reality.
“We learned that professional headshots are required to apply, so I began researching Chicago photographers,” explains Laura.
A quest for simple headshots quickly morphed into a creative portrait session that inspired the Tween Esteem Project.
“What happened from there was a true, long-lasting transformation,” says Chris. “Never in a million years did I think a single photo shoot could have this kind of impact on my daughter. She felt worthy, beautiful, smart, and seen. She is learning to love her body and she stands taller now. My baby girl is back!”
“The representations of beauty [my kids] encounter daily are very narrow, and frankly, inaccurate.” -Emy’s mom
For Emy, the waves of confidence keep coming.
“My Instagram went crazy when I posted the images,” Emy recalls with a smile. “I was shy to share them at first, but one friend told another friend and then all these kids at school started saying, ‘You’re so pretty! You’re famous!’”
Even Emy’s teacher requested a copy of her favorite image, describing her as a new person since the photo shoot.
“I was really nervous entering the studio,” Emy says. “But I was having fun right away and learned how certain poses help you see yourself differently. I was like a plant that needed watering. I feel more of a glow now.”
Emy beams as she recalls the experience, adding that she also was inspired by the makeup artist she visited before the shoot who specializes in black skin tones.
“We live in a predominantly white suburban community where not a lot of people look like my kids,” explains Chris. “The representations of beauty they encounter daily are very narrow, and frankly, inaccurate. Traveling into the city and working with artists that have diverse portfolios really makes a difference.”
Emy continues to learn about makeup techniques on TikTok and is quickly developing a natural talent.
“My brother is not a very patient model, but I do my friends’ eyes and I’m good at it,” she says, matter-of-factly.
Her reclaimed self-esteem has translated into all areas of Emy's life, including how she approaches extracurriculars. Emy grew up doing gymnastics at the studio her mother and godmother own together just outside Chicago. Recently, she’s left the sport and begun exploring other interests like dance and basketball. She says that prior to seeing her portrait images, she realized she was holding herself back.
“I don’t feel as much pressure to succeed at everything I try anymore, so I’m trying new things I never would have done before.”
In addition to the elegant portrait that hangs in her home, Emy’s godmother created a coffee table book of the full experience to help Emy relive the day of her photo shoot.
A coffee table book of Emy’s photo session reminds her that every child deserves to feel beautiful.
“There was something magical about her session,” says Josh Beaton. “Emy’s energy is contagious, and that beauty translated all the way through the final edit.”
Photo editors at Photo Vogue Italia saw it, too. Following a dozen submissions over many months, Josh learned the highly discerning publication had finally selected one of his images to run. It was of Emy.
“I dream of my images appearing in Vogue magazine one day,” says Josh. “For one of my youngest clients to make the cut at this level was truly inspiring. It validates the importance of this project and highlights the power young people possess when we choose to see them.”
As an added daily reminder of her power, Emy made her favorite image from Josh Beaton Photography the background on her own phone.
