PORT ORCHARD — When her Facebook friends began sharing their high-school senior portraits, Ashley Kidwell was reminded that she doesn’t have one.

Kidwell grew up in foster care and was emancipated when she was 17.

“That was something I missed out on: I didn’t get to have senior portraits,” Kidwell said. “I didn’t have anybody that cared enough to pay for them for me.”

Now, 11 years later, it’s still something she misses.

So when a Pierce County photographer, Rebecca Pierce, began offering free senior portraits to foster children, Kidwell decided she was going to do that, too, in Kitsap County.

“When you’re a foster child, there’s just so much you miss out on,” Kidwell said. “You’re kind of invisible because of all these little things that you don’t get to do or have.

“Foster parents are amazing, and I know that they do everything they possibly can,” but, she added, in alternative situations such as group homes, “sometimes they just don’t have somebody that can fill that gap.”

Kidwell is a professional lifestyle and portrait photographer in Kitsap County. She owns the Beautiful Beginnings photography studio based in Port Orchard. Normally, senior portrait sessions run from $150 to $250, depending on how much time and how many pictures the subject wants.

But thanks to Kidwell, senior students who are foster children now will be able to get that package free of charge. Photographs are delivered digitally in a password-protected online gallery, just like they are for any other client. Print outs can be ordered if the subject wishes or the photos can be downloaded and kept virtually.

“I’ve had about 20 people contact me so far,” Kidwell said. She first began advertising this at the beginning of October. “I’ve scheduled about four sessions. I’m still trying to get back to people — there seems to be quite a few people that need this.”

She added that when she hears from someone in Pierce County, she’ll direct them to Rebecca Pierce, who gave her the idea for this.

“So far, (community response has) been pretty positive,” Kidwell said. “I haven’t had any negative responses.

“It’s not about me,” she added. “It’s more about making sure that these foster youth have something. They already have very few tangible things. It’s hard to keep things. There’s so many things they’re going without. It’s not about me, it’s about helping them be seen for once. A lot of times, foster youth are just swept under the rug, not noticed. They’re having something they may not have been able to have otherwise.”

Kidwell said that offering free senior portrait packages to foster children is something she’ll continue doing.

“As soon as this year finishes, there will be new seniors who also need it,” Kidwell said. “As long as I’m able to, I’m going to do be doing it.”

To learn more or to set up a portrait session, contact Ashley Kidwell at 360-689-1509, or visit www.beau tifulbeginningsphotos.com or www.facebook.com/beautifulbeginnings birth.

Rebecca Pierce is online at www.facebook.com/rebeccapiercecreative.

Michelle Beahm is a reporter with the Bremerton Patriot and Central Kitsap Reporter and is reachable at mbeahm@soundpublishing.com.