Photography is deeply personal, and this series takes that to heart. I was asked to portray several children for a traveling exhibition aimed at raising awareness about an important subject. These children are young caregivers. They take care of someone in their family, which could be a sibling or even their mother. Naturally, a child should just be a child. But the love between parent and child is unconditional, and you can see that in how much these children are willing to do for their loved ones. These children show incredible strength in life, but it certainly isn’t easy.
Levi, 11 years old, has ADHD. He has two mothers, one of them lives in a Psychiatric facility throughout the week.
I suggested to my client that we interview the children. No complicated setups with lighting, compositions, or locations. Just one lamp, a camera on a tripod, and a conversation. Some of these conversations lasted up to three hours, which is a long time for a child sitting across from an unfamiliar adult man.
Róben, 14 years old, has dyslexia but attends a bilingual school. Her mother has autism and recently experienced a burnout.
My goal was to capture who these children are in their photos, which could lead to any outcome. But you notice that everyone starts with a smile...a mask. As the conversation went on, they opened up more, and their expressions started to change. They all found it difficult when talking about the challenging and heavy topics that come with being a caregiver. It takes a toll, especially when you’re a teenager and feel like you “have to” give up your social life. Some children also had their own hurdles to overcome what made it even more difficult for them.
Nick, 20 years old, recently underwent a transition surgery. Since he and his mother were in a car accident, his mother has difficulty walking and experiences a lot of pain.
The most special part of creating this series for me was the trust each child placed in me. That they were open and honest in the conversation and that they dared to show and express their emotions, allowing me to capture them in the photographs. It was often deeply emotional, and I struggled to hold back tears myself.
Mira, 16 years old, has autism. Her mother has suffered from severe pain following an accident and an unfortunate surgery. She has also experienced a prolonged period of depression.
Naomi, 10 years old, a talented gymnast. Her twin-sister has serval disabilities.
Sharona, 17 years old, had a difficult time during the COVID pandemic. She takes care of her younger brother and her older brother, who have ADHD and autism.
I am deeply honored to be allowed a glimpse into the lives of others. This is not something to be taken for granted, and the people who agree to be photographed show incredible courage. Things have been shared that they haven’t even told their own parents. In some cases, relationships were strengthened or even restored, like between a father and son, because the exhibition opened the door for conversations between parents and children. With this series, I feel like I’ve done something good for the world. And that feeling is the most valuable thing there is.