Front Steps Project in Boston I Portraits

After 3 months of photographing families in the Medford area, my participation in the Front Steps Project has come to an end. As I look back and reflect on the past few months, I’d like to share my own experience, thoughts, and feelings.

First and foremost, Thank You! to the 65 families who participated in this project and who donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

*In exchange for the photos, I asked that families donate to the AFSP. The AFSP is an organization near and dear to my fiancé’s heart because he grew up in Guyana, a small country in South America, which has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. In our society, mental health can be a taboo topic but, in immigrant families, it’s often a stigma. By bringing awareness and education to mental health issues, we can overcome this stigma. 2020 has done nothing but kick our butts and mentally mess with us but we will be stronger for it.*

At the beginning of COVID, I was a couple of weeks into my medical leave from my full-time job and just beginning the journey of recovery from crippling anxiety, stress, and emotional pain. Then, when everything shut down in the middle of March, I was lost in despair becoming an emotional wreck for a week. The services I used to get back to a better mental state stopped and stopped abruptly, all at once.

One day, while browsing the Medford community Facebook page, I stumbled across a post about the Front Steps Project, a photography project founded by Cara Soulia in Needham, asking if any Medford Photographers were participating in the Project
Photography has always been my creative outlet, bringing my brain freedom from the day to day number crunching I usually do, so when I read more about the project, I decided to participate as a way to serve my community the best way I could.

What I came to realize after interacting with each family and hearing their stories, is that while we were all dealing with life separately; we became connected through these unique photography experiences. Hearing their stories and seeing their joy became MY therapy

I’ve met nurses, policemen, hairdressers, drivers, engineers, teachers, and graduating high school and college seniors. Each family has been affected by this outbreak and each family has a unique, yet similar story, to tell.

I had one mother email me saying that her son, who is usually shy and reserved, left the porch session saying that he had so much fun he would do it again. I took pictures of 3-7 month-old babies whose mothers had not left the house since giving birth and now, couldn’t even return to work (something they were looking forward to) and that these were the only professional pictures they had of their baby and their families together. I photographed college seniors who weren’t able to return to campus to celebrate their last semester before parting ways with friends; high school seniors whose first year of college is ambiguous- will they be able to move in to experience the joy of freshman year or will their college classes all be online. I met families where both parents were front – line essential workers and nurses who changed out of their scrubs on their front porch, all praying that they would not bring the virus home.

Lastly, to my neighbors, I have enjoyed meeting you and your families, hearing your stories, and getting to know the Medford community. It warms my heart to know the little I did, taking pictures of your family, brought a spot of joy to your day. I hope to continue to serve this community for the years to come.

May the light within me, honor and shine the light within each and every one of you.

P.S. To the man who keeps me grounded day, I love you and can’t wait to marry you.