Recently I was asked to photograph a friend's niece for her Quinceanera portraits. I met Rosie and her family at Research Park and we traveled around the park looking for just the right spot to take her portraits. I wasn't aware of everything that went into a Quinceanera but here are some highlights. The custom is a celebration of the young girl and a recognition of her journey from childhood to maturity. It is a religious ceremony that highlights her relationship with God, family, and friends. The festivities include food and music, and in most, a choreographed waltz or dance performed by the Quinceanera and her court. The court can be made up of young girls called a Dama, young men called Escorte or Galan or a combination of both-traditionally up to 14 persons in the court, which with the young girl, would total 15 young people.
There are many traditions throughout the celebration but the one I found most interesting was the Changing of the Shoes. The father ceremoniously changes the young girl's flat shoes to high heels. This is a symbol of the Quinceanera's transformation from a little girl to a young lady.
Congratulations, Rosie on turning 15.
