21 Portraits

What began as a request from my mom has grown into a quiet generational thread woven through our family. The “21 Portrait” tradition began with her grandmother, continued through her own portrait at 21, and then with my two sisters. When it came time for her granddaughters, my mom asked me to photograph them in that same spirit, a well-lit yet dramatic studio style that feels vintage and timeless. Each portrait is similar but different, guided by the same light, pose, and sense of grace. Though I am bound by the tradition, I have come to love the challenge of recreating it across changing cameras, spaces, and years. What started as something to honor my mom has become a record of continuity, showing how family and time move together in quiet rhythm. The next portrait will be of my daughter in 2036, and perhaps one day, my parents’ first great-granddaughter will stand in that same light. If I am lucky, I will still be there to photograph her and keep the tradition alive.