Front Steps Project in Boston I Portraits

After three months of capturing images of families around Medford, my involvement in the Front Steps Project has concluded. Reflecting on this period, I want to share my personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions.

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

When COVID began, I was a few weeks into my medical leave from my full-time job and just starting to recover from severe anxiety, stress, and emotional pain. Then, when everything shut down in mid-March, I found myself in despair, becoming an emotional wreck for a week. The services that helped me regain a better mental state ceased abruptly, all at once.

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

What I realized after interacting with each family and hearing their stories was 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 has a unique, yet similar, story to tell.

One mother emailed me saying her son, who is usually shy and reserved, left the porch session saying he had so much fun he would do it again. I took pictures of 3-7 month-old babies whose mothers hadn't left the house since giving birth and now couldn’t even return to work (something they were looking forward to), and these were the only professional photos they had of their baby and their families together. I photographed college seniors who couldn’t return to campus to celebrate their last semester with friends; high school seniors whose first year of college is uncertain—will they be able to move in and experience freshman year, or will their classes 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 hoping not to 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 that the little I did, taking pictures of your family, brought a bit of joy to your day. I hope to continue serving this community in 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.