March 15, 2017
Britni and Naomi. March 15, 2017
You know me, I always photograph people. People are my thing. These people, Naomi on the left and her mom, Britni, are special to me. Britni volunteered to let me photograph her and her daughter for the huge project I've been working on for more than a year now. Britni was 18 when Naomi was born, now Naomi is a big, audacious 8 year old girl.
This is my project's big debut.
The Teen Parent Story Project.
I have been photographing teen families. Some of the parents are teens now, some parents were teens when their child or children were born, but are now in their 20's, 30's, 40's, etc. Celebrating these families has been a gorgeous, inspiring journey. It has been a joy getting to know all of these families, each with very different and stunning stories. When I became a mother, I learned that mothers are the strongest people on this planet. Teen mothers and fathers are some of the toughest people I have ever met. All of the people I have met along this journey have shown me dignity, power, strength, beauty, perseverance and success. I continue to meet new, fascinating families and I will continue to photograph them, to talk to them, to gather their stories so that one day soon we will have a grand party, a Gallery Gala, and we will all come together to celebrate these bad ass families.
If you would like to know more about this project, please contact me. If you are or were a teen parent and would like to volunteer for this project, please let me know. I am still looking for volunteers.
Thank you families!!!