Launching Give Light: Why This Project Matters to Me

Becoming a father changed the way I see photographs. Before my daughter was born, I focused on the technical side of an image. Now I notice how fast life moves — and how a single photo can become the thing you hold onto when time doesn’t pause for you.

Photographing families around the Bay Area made something else clear: a lot of people want meaningful photos, but life doesn’t always make it easy. When things get heavy — caregiving, illness, stress, limited time, competing priorities — professional photography tends to fall off the list. Ironically, those are often the moments that deserve to be documented the most.

I grew up without family photos. We never hired a photographer, and there’s almost no record of my childhood. Only recently have I taken a few images of my family myself. I wish we had more to look back on. That gap is a big part of why this project exists.

As I worked with families, one idea kept coming back: no one should miss out on documenting their story because of access, time, or life circumstances. Every family deserves photos that feel real and meaningful.

This is why I started Give Light.

Give Light is a community project offering free family photo sessions for Bay Area families going through a difficult or overwhelming season. There’s no pressure, no cost, and no judgment — just honest photographs for families who would appreciate them.

What Give Light Is

• A simple way to receive meaningful photos during tough seasons

• A supportive space to be seen and documented

• A reminder that love and connection deserve to be preserved

What Give Light Isn’t

• A charity

• A publicity stunt

• A discount program

It’s just me, using the one skill I have to give something back to the community that shaped me.

Every time I photograph a family — the quiet moments, chaotic ones, and everything in between — I’m reminded that these moments don’t repeat themselves. Kids grow, life changes, and memory fades. A photograph is what remains.

If you know a Bay Area family who would appreciate a session, you can nominate them on the Give Light page on my site. Even sharing it quietly helps it reach the people who need it.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for supporting this project in whatever way feels right. I’m grateful to finally begin this.