what we are is a photographic series exploring the intimate nuances of growing up within a mixed-race family. Through warm-toned portraits and images taken around the home paired with handwritten stories from each of my family members as well as archival images, I aim to dissect the intricately shared lived experiences of identity, belonging, and othering. Ultimately, what we are serves as a visual narrative of the resilient strength, love, and support that my family has given to each other. My connection to my ethnicity isn’t something that can be fully identified through just this one project, this is something that I will be exploring for the rest of my life. Discussing race and identity isn’t something that’s easy to dissect, it takes time and a certain delicacy that I’m grateful photography allows me to have. My family’s differences are what makes us whole, and who we are, and I’m forever grateful for their continual support and encouragement.
