By MEGAN MANAGAN

Reporter Newspapers

Any girl who has been in high school in the last 10 years, can attest to the closet of formal dresses they leave behind. The question becomes, what to do with them?

Photographer Danielle Ness, who owns Criativo Photography, is offering girls a photo shoot in their dresses, after which the gowns will be donated to Ruby Room, an organization in Seattle which collects dresses to give to girls who couldn’t otherwise afford them.

“It’s a win, win, win situation,” Ness said.” “It helps Ruby Room, the girls who are going to be getting the dresses and it’s fun for the girls who are donating.”

The photo sessions for what Ness is calling the “Rock the Dress Drive” will be about 20 to 30 minutes each, and will take place on Aug. 15 at Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island. Ness plans to pick a different spot in the park for each girl who signs up.

Girls interested can sign up with Ness and should come ready to go, with their hair and makeup the way they’d like it in the pictures. Each girl will receive a free 5×7 print and a photo for Facebook.

“(Girls should) come wearing other clothes because she’s going to be giving me the dress, so she’ll need clothes to change into,” said Ness.

Ness will also be accepting donations of dresses other than the ones the girls want to wear in the picture, as well as accessories, including jewelry, shoes and purses.

Ness is taking reservations for the event via email at danielle@criativophoto.com, through Facebook at www.facebook.com/criativophoto or by calling 425-890-7801.

Megan Managan can be contacted at mmanagan@soundpublishing.com or (206) 232-1215, ext. 5054.