BILLINGS – Billings photographer Tracy Moore specializes in senior portraits. Now she’s doing her part to build the confidence and wardrobes of young women in the community through Tracy’s Closet.
“Well, I’m a high school senior photographer so I specialize in shooting high school girls, and I’ve just been around them a lot for the last, like, decade, taking their pictures and spending a lot of time with them,” Moore said. “It’s a lot more than just pictures. It’s always been more of a community thing. We go over life, and goals, and I want to help them succeed in life.”
It was brought to Moore’s attention there was a senior who wasn’t getting senior photos because she couldn’t afford them, or clothes to be proud to wear in them.
“And I was just like, ‘No! A: I will take her pictures. And B: I have access to so many teen girls who will just throw clothes together, we will get you cute outfits it will be easy.’ No girl should not be able to have that experience,” Moore said.
“Hundreds of messages and comments of people wanting to bring stuff and I was just like, okay, I don’t think this little pile up here will do. Up here we had this whole space that was already built like a closet, and I was like bring it all in here, and give it to any girl,” Moore said.
Tracy’s Closet is now filled with new, and new-to-you clothing, purses, and shoes for girls in the community, from the community.
“Girls, honestly, are super mean and it’s hard to try to fit because like everything on social media is like you have to look good and you have to have the up-and-coming fashion trends and cool places to take pictures. And some of the girls don’t have those opportunities, so maybe this will give them the opportunities and they can go take fun pictures and be confident with it,” said former client Aspen Willems.
“When you look at it later in you’re life you’re like, oh that wasn’t a big deal, it’s just high school. But in that moment, it’s the hardest thing in the world to you. It’s like mean girls, or boys, there’s a lot going on. I think everyone wants to find a way to help. And this is that way to help, and people are going crazy and it’s been really, really cool,” Moore said.
In the future, Moore has hopes of non-profit status, counseling, and additional mentoring.
“Tons of opportunity and tons of ideas we have, but we’ll just take it one step at a time and see what happens. I just want it to be like a safe space for these girls to come in and boost their confidence and feel like loved and supported and special and worthy, because they are,” Moore said.
“Know that you can reach out to people. You have friends and people who care about you. You can fit in just being you if you know the right people,” Willems said.
If you, or someone you know could benefit from The Closet-contact the Tracy’s Closet Facebook page.
If you want to help, you can donate clothes, money, or just your time.
This weekend, they will hold a sale to help purchase gift cards. This will happen Saturday, Sept. 22 at Tracy’s Closet on 2nd Avenue North.
