text: A photographer and mother-of-two has turned a collection of candid images of her energetic daughters and their friends into a powerful photography series that celebrates their strength and confidence, while highlighting what it means to be a girl today. Kate T. Parker, from Atlanta, Georgia, was inspired to create her aptly-titled series Strong is the New Pretty while pouring over photos she snapped of her daughters Ella, nine, and Alice, six, playing sports and enjoying their childhoods. 'The project became about capturing my girls and their friends as they truly are and how that is OK -not only OK - but worthy of celebration,' she told Daily Mail Online in an email. Summer breeze: Atlanta-based photographer Kate T. Parker captured this group of girls cooling off in front of a fan for her photo series Strong is the New Pretty . Serious athlete: Kate snapped these pictures of her daughter Ella, nine, before her first triathlon (L) and while she was playing soccer (R) Team spirit: As a part of the powerful series, Ms Parker photographs her daughters and their friends playing sports . Ms Parker continued: 'There's a lot of pressure for girls - and women - to look a certain way, act in [a] certain manner, and I wanted to let my daughters know that who they naturally are is enough.' When the devoted parent first turned the camera lens on her girls she was hoping simply to record their childhood, as well as practice certain photography techniques, but about a year ago the project started to evolve into something more. 'The images changed,' Ms Parker explained. 'I started to see patterns and recognize that the images where the girls were authentically captured were the strongest images. The images that showed the girls as they genuinely are were my favorites.' Water world: Ms Parker snapped this shot of the girls while they were enjoying a swimming session . Feeling strong: Kate's daughter and her soccer teammates posed against a brick wall for this powerful shot . Hot wheels: Ms Parker's daughters can be seen riding around their neighborhood . Sisterly love: These young girls embraced while wearing matching uniforms . Wild woman: This little girl let out a delightful scream as she ran through sprinklers in her bathingsuit . She kept that idea in mind as she continued to shoot her daughters and their friends. The series of photos aims to empower the girls and honor their personal interests - whatever they may be. The images of Ella, Alice, and their friends are black and white and free of frilly dresses, dolls or anything else stereotypically associated with young girls. Instead, Ms Parker captured the girls playing sports, running through sprinklers and horsing around, essentially exploring their everyday adventures. 'My girls know that who they are is just perfect,' she wrote on her blog last year. Girl fight: Ms Parker photographed her girls horsing around and playfully fighting like sisters typically do . Powerful gaze: Ms Parker got close-up for this candid snapshot . Peek-a-boo: These four girls can be seen posing inside a cardboard cutout . Uphill battle: This little girl rides her bike wearing a swimsuit and a helmet . Ms Parker added: 'They don’t need to have their hair done, clothes matching, or even be clean to be loved or accepted... I wanted this series of images to show their boldness, their strength and the beauty in them, as they are. Strong is the new pretty.' The photographer explained to Today that she is in no way 'taking out' girls who like traditionally feminine things. She has nothing against tutus or the color pink. In fact, she believes that parents should celebrate whatever their kids are into. 'My kids are this, you know? Athletic and strong and dirty and loud and crazy,' she told the outlet. 'That’s what I’m trying to celebrate.' Ms Parker added: 'But I encourage everyone to document their own kids the way they see them.' Getting clean: The two girls give their dog a bath in this humorous shot . Keeping pace: Ms Parker captured her daughter running a race . Hideout: Ms Parker snapped this photo of her daughter and her dog peeking their faces out of their play house . Animal instinct: The girls chose to stick their heads out the window while their dog remained inside . When the Today show shared Ms Parker's story on their Facebook page yesterday, it was liked nearly 25,000 times and inspired hundreds of parents to post photos of their own daughters doing the things that they love. 'Already a fierce little girl! Girls play in the mud and with sticks too!' Mary Kenyon wrote of her daughter. 'Determined and strong that's what all girls should be made of!' Cheryl Koscielniak Brzyski added. Meanwhile, Charlotte Yarbrough Knowles noted: 'My daughter is amazing. She is intelligent, funny and so filled with potential. In our world, it is hard to be a strong woman, but she is finding her way. I cannot wait to see what she will do.' Underwater shot: These girls were snapped enjoying a day in the pool . All wet: Ms Parker snapped her girls playing around with buckets of water . So bored: Ms Parker's daughters take a break after they went roller skating . Say cheese: Four girls can be seen striking a pose inside a photo booth .
target: Kate T. Parker was inspired to create her series Strong is the New Pretty after years of shooting pictures of her daughters Ella, nine, and Alice, six .