Lifeline of Love: A Familial Classic Portrait

This project captures heartwarming moments of my Ma smiling and embracing my niece in a cozy setting (our kitchen), conveying a sense of joy, connection, and togetherness. My niece is also pictured with her maternal grandmother as well, showing two matriarchs in her extensive familial tree. Emphasizing legacy & rooted in classic lighting principles, Lifeline of Love was created amidst the warmth of family moments with the hope of preserving the intangible bonds of love and connection through the imprinted photograph.

I sought to fossilize our smiles—the hereditary indicators of joy—etched onto our faces as reflections of the lives we’ve lived. A smile is more than a fleeting expression; it’s a movement of muscles that tells stories, connecting us when shared in unison. In those shared smiles, we see glimpses of the ones we love, mirrored in the expressions we’ve inherited.

This work celebrates the lifeline that love and joy provide, passed down through generations. It reminds us that our shared experiences, emotions, and connections are not just captured in photographs—they are the essence of what binds us together as families and as humans.