Documenting History
Natalie (9), hugs her sister Maria-Jose (7) on the playground of their school. They travelled to the United States from El Salvador by themselves two years prior. Photo taken April of 2019 as part of the Unaccompanied Youth Photography Project through the Children’s Youth Cabinet.
As I reflect on my career, a consistent thread remains: a curiosity to know how people act, survive, live and make a difference in the world. This curiosity along with a photojournalist’s desire to find authenticity in the moment inspires my work in the portrait studio and on location as a documentary photographer. Both portrait and documentary-style photography unveil the authenticity of my subject’s story. Documentary-style photography can be a different conversation from my portrait work though. It’s often more raw and unplanned, a stark contrast to the whimsy we create in the studio - capturing that gesture or smile that defines your spirit, getting caught up in the magic of styling, hair, make up and playing. Even as my portrait work eclipses my documentary work, the photojournalist in me will always love being in the field to document stories to share. It invites me to leave my bubble, stay connected to our world, interact with people in their element and pull in their environment to complete the story.
Instead of giving 2020 the power to make me feel useless, I have leaned on my camera to document history and do my part in helping those who need it be heard. Whether I am in the studio or out on location the goal is always to tell someone’s story, capture their core and their spirit in images. I am not just setting up a photo, I am looking at who that person is and their role in the world. Going into the project I ask myself - how am I going to tell this story so the audience can see what is being said vs. reading what is said. Still I use a blend of photos and interviews to share stories, keeping it simple and letting the subject speak for themselves.
Sylvia , the girl’s mother (middle) first travelled to the US, leaving behind her two oldest daughters in El Salvador to escape gang violence, leaving her children behind with her mother, knowing they would be safe because children are not recruited to the gangs until they are teenagers. Then, two years later, the girls travelled by themselves and they were united here in Rhode Island. It was not an easy road and there have been consequences, but Sylvia is so grateful they are now all safe here in the United States. Photo taken March of 2019 as part of the Unaccompanied Youth Photography Project through the Children’s Youth Cabinet.
This work is never passive - it impacts me, educates me and changes my life. Recently, with the Children’s Youth Cabinet, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with families who have escaped challenging situations in other countries and are determined to rebuild their lives in the US. Many from hispanic countries, their cultures and experiences tap my own Mexican heritage and history. They have warmed me with their generosity, one woman inviting me into their home, insistent on feeding me. It has inspired me to work on my Spanish so I can speak with them more fluently, get to know them and my community more deeply and help them know they belong here.
And then there are projects like Frontliners and The Frontsteps Project. Stuck at home this past spring, these gave me a part to play in my community. With a long lens and mask, I could show up for others and help people be seen and heard. Telling the stories of healthcare workers, teachers, nursing home cleaning staff and families helped me stay connected to my community and remain engaged. It kept me fresh, standing tall and from shrinking away from our world’s current issues.
Now more than ever we have to make space to understand each other. This is the time to listen and learn from others - not hear just what we want to hear or what will drive likes. We do that by listening, connecting and being present. I love that documentary photography allows me into worlds different from my own. It helps to give me perspective and open my mind to how others live. It is a privilege and a responsibility to tell these stories with accuracy, accountability and authenticity.
We all have a story. Let me tell yours.