Participate | The Boys Can Be Princesses, Too Project

Take part in a photo shoot!

Currently this project is based in Chicago, IL but I'm working to expand it WORLD WIDE! Check back soon for a list of official photo shoots. In the meantime, add your location to our database so I can get an idea where we are needed! Location Form

To help me expand this project, consider donating as well! Donate Here

Want to participate? Here are the requirements:

Looking for boys ages 3-13 years old.
This project is looking for boys only! I'm aiming to show the world that boys can like princesses too! Don't worry though, I already have ideas other empowering shoots already! So stay tuned!
Must actually like to wear princess dresses! They will need to wear one for the shoot.
Boys should be dressed like the princess they are meeting (not a prince or other character!). I will provide a dress for them to wear but they are welcome to wear their own.
We are only doing one child per princess, to allow as many little boys as possible to meet their idols!

More details:

The shoot is private - just you, your boy with the princess and me, the photographer! There may be a videographer and an assistant, but other than that, just us! No other families will be shooting when you are.
Shoot will take place in Chicago, IL, just north of downtown. Exact location will be given to chosen participants only.
It is FREE to participate! However, in exchange for the free photo shoot, any photos or video taken at the shoot will be able to be used promotionally for The Boys Can Be Princesses Too Project and/or Kitty Wolf Photography for any purpose.
Shoot will last approximately 30-45 minutes.
Shoot will consist of candid shots or your boy interacting with the princess, as well as some posed shots
Participants will receive 3-5 edited photos once the project is complete.
Kitty Wolf Photography will own the rights to all photos and video taken at the shoot.

Questions?

Read the participation FAQs below!
Or e-mail us Project@BoysCanBePrincessesToo.com

If interested, fill out the application below and I'll contact you in a few days!

What if I don't agree with this message?

That’s ok! I know not everyone is going to agree or support this project. You absolutely have the right to your own opinion. However, please read through everything on the site before passing (and posting) judgement, as many people seem to misunderstand this project and its intentions. This project is about letting go of gender stereotypes so we can let kids play however they want. To not stifle their imagination, creativity, or fun just because of society’s gender norms. We’re doing a great job empowering girls (letting them play as beloved male characters, enjoy what other’s consider “boy” things, etc) now let’s empower boys too. Granted I know it can be uncomfortable, annoying, angering or even scary when such views are called into question. I don’t blame you. It’s been that way for so long, it's hard to think of it any other way. It's honestly normal to feel defensive about it. But I urge you to stop for a minute and think, really think about this project and this message. This project might not change anyone's mind, but I'm hoping it at least gets people thinking, quesitoning, and talking about issues such as gender roles in children's playtime. Like the quote from Cinderella: "Just because it's what's done doesn't mean it's what should be done." Meaning just because that's the way it's always been, doesn't mean it's the way it always should be. Something to think about! I'm open to civil discussions or to answering questions and providing more clarity about the project and its message :) Feel free to join the discussion on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoysCanBePrincessesToo (Civil discussion is encouraged but know that any hate speech from either side will be blocked! Keep it mature everyone!)
Why are you forcing little boys to wear dresses?

I assure you I am not! The boys are participating because they want to. I'd never make anyone do anything they don't want to do - participation is purely voluntary! These boys are old enough to know who they want to play pretend as, and they have chosen to play as princesses! Children this age pick out their own Halloween costumes, know what food they like, have favorite colors, favorite movies, favorite songs. They defintely know what they like and what they dont'! And some boys know they like princesses. I understand that many people do not think a boy would ever want to wear a dress, but this project, and the comments from fellow parents, shows that yes, there are boys that absolutely DO love wearing princess dresses! In fact the whole point of the project is to promote the idea of NOT forcing your children to play how YOU want them to! So we are on the same page here :)
These kids are going to get bullied and made fun of at school! Why would you do this to them?

As I said in the previous question, I'm not doing anything to them. No one was forced into participating. This is who they are, I am just photographing it. The idea that people, especially children, should change who they are in order to not be bullied by others is appalling. The bullies are the issue here, not the children expressing themselves. We should be teaching children to respect others and be kind. The argument that kids are mean is just an excuse and not addressing the real problem. Mean kids need to be taught to be better people, and that responsibility falls square on adults' shoulders. So if you are truly concerned about bullying, consider donating or volunteering to anti-bullying organizations in your area. More information about how you can help stop bullying can be found here: StopBullying.gov
Boys can't be princesses! "Princess" literally means female! Why can't they be princes?"

Don't worry, no one is trying to say boys can literally become princesses! This is about playtime and pretending - make believe! The project is saying boys can be princesses the same way they can be superheroes or Paw Patrol pups or ninja turtles or dragons or whatever else their imagination comes up with. Everyone knows they cannot literally BE those things, but they can when they play! These boys are pretending to be specific characters they love, which happen to be princesses. They can be princes if they want too. No one is saying they can't. This project is about not limiting a child's play based on gender roles... or semantics. The title of the project is simply rhetoric, not meant to be taken literally. To do so just totally misses the whole point of the project!
Anyone can be a princess! Why are you excluding everyone but boys?

I totally agree that anyone can be a princess! Many people have expressed concern that the princesses in the project are generic and should be other genders, races and body types and YES! I absolutely agree! Anyone can be a princess! However, for this project I chose to portray the princesses as genericly as possible because otherwise it would take the focus off the boys. I wanted the actual characters to be the mundane part of the project, the focus being on the children that participated instead! I do believe *everyone* can be a princess and that everyone can portray these princesses specifically. I also think that could be a whole beauitful project in its own right! ;) Why only boys? I chose to only focus on boys for this project because I wanted to make the message as strong and clear as possible. I worried that the message of "it's ok for a boy to be a princess" would get lost in a broader project and that would be an injustice to them. Granted, a project like this has the ability to shed light on many different groups and issues, and it's tempting to try and do more, but I think it will be a stronger impact by focusing on just one issue. If I were to have featured many different types of princesses with the boys, it would have taken the light off the boys and their struggle. It would have diminished all of the messages and done a disservice to every group featured by not focusing on just them and their struggles. By focusing on just boys, I'm able to draw attention to just that issue. I do have plans for different types of shoots in the future, but I also am hoping this shoot inspires other people to do similar photo projects of their own! So if there is something you really feel passionate about and want to try to tackle it yourself, do it! And feel free to contact me if you want any input on how to do it :) You can reach me at project@boyscanbeprincessestoo.com
I want to do my own Boys Can Be Princesses Too photoshoot! Can it be part of this project?

You are definitely more than welcome to host photoshoots with princesses and anyone that wants to dress as one! However it cannot be officially affiliated with this project or use this project's name or logo as those are copyrighted. So while you may not be able to do it as part of this project, I encourage everyone to explore ways they can put meaningful and representative content into the world. Be it photoshoots, art work, performances, whatever! Think about what you can do to leave the world a better place. I'm always down to brainstorm ideas with others and give tips and feedback. Feel free to contact me at project@boyscanbeprincessestoo.com. And if you DO do a similar photoshoot, art project, or anything, please send it my way! I'd love to see it and maybe share it too!
Can my son participate?

I am actually all set with the participants I need for this project, but thank you for your interest! If you'd like to do a similar shoot though, you should definitely reach out to a local photographer and/or princess party company! If you'd like recommendations on princess party companies in your area that support this project, feel free to message me! I used to be a company owner myself, so I am in the know! Also, please feel free to join our special Facebook group for parents and supporters: Boys Can Be Princesses Too Support Group
I would love to help with this project! What can I do?

Awesome, glad to hear it! There are a few ways you can help out, even if you aren't local to Chicago: Spread the word! Like us and Share our posts on Facebook Use hastag #BoysCanBePrincessesToo Send the project to social media pages, news sources, bloggers, vloggers, influencers, celebrities, any one or anything that might be interested and help get the word out further! The more places these pictures are, the more likely the people that need to see them will see them! Send kind words! This project creates a lot of hate, so any love you can send would be greatly appreciated! Emails, Facebook comments or messages, all are welcome and very much needed! Donate! I'm doing these photoshoots probono, but unfortately the studio space is not free! Donations help with all the costs associated with doing a series of free photo shoots. And it helps me spread the word, by paying for advertising! You can donate here: GoFundMe Campaign Moderate the comments! Facebook doesn't always notify page owners of new comments, so if you see a particularly nasty comment on a picture of one of the participants, please message the page asap. Thanks for looking out! Anything else you can think of! Have a talent or business or anything else you think might be able of service to this project? I'm all ears!
My son loves "girly" things but I'm afraid to post about it publicly. Any suggestions?"

Sure! Come join our special Facebook group for parents and supporters! It's a private group so you are safe to post pictures, questions, discussions, whatever! Check it out here: Boys Can Be Princesses Too Support Group Membership approval is strict, so please answer all the questions it asks when joining as throughly as possible. It also helps to have liked our main Facebook page ;)