Life in this house means being authentic. It is defined by the old, time worn stories told by my grandfather. It means getting life advice, motivation, support, and reassurance from my grandmother. It means laughing endlessly with my older sister who is home from college. It means enjoying time to simply talk. To catch up.

This series of photos was captured on December 25, 2016. As most of my extended family lives lengths away from my home in Grand Blanc, Michigan, I cherish the time I'm allowed to speak with them in person. A phone call or text sporadically just doesn't cut it. What fueled me to take these photographs of my dear family members was my desire to remember. To remember their perfections and flaws. Their quirks and passions. To remember my grandpa's love for black coffee and the newspaper. To remember my grandma's calming voice that is always paired with a unique sweater. To remind me that my freckles originated from my grandmother's freckled face. To remember my other grandfather's knowledge and greeting of a hug. As I will be leaving home soon and seeing these relatives will become even less frequent, these photos document a pleasant time when we shared our current plans, lives, stories, and hopes for the future.