Over at the blog Too Much Chocolate, Aline Smithson has a fabulous essay on photographing family. Read it here.

Excerpt:

I have gathered a talented group of photographers who have created meaningful projects about their families and asked them what it’s like to be a participant observer: to be a child or a parent, and at the same time, reveal something extremely personal through their art, often exposing and tarnishing an idealized concept of family. These images are not only about preserving memories, but about revealing truths. I was curious to understand their intentions and discover how they approached their work. I also asked if they would like to share any stories about a particular image, giving us a window into their thought process. Many thanks to Phillip Toledano, Doug DuBois, Elizabeth Flemming, Jack Radcliffe, David Newsom, Timothy Archibald, Tierney Gearon, and Dona Schwartz for sharing their insights and images.

© Elizabeth Flemming

© Philip Toledano

© Tierney Gearon