For over a decade, I’ve been documenting stories with my camera, but as long as I can remember, I loved listening to stories about the past. As a child, on Sunday afternoons, my father would break out old photo albums and share stories of his childhood in Freetown, Sierra Leone. I held those stories and memories close and now that I have three children of my own, I can pass those stories and photos down to them.

Inspired by my love for history and black culture across the African diaspora, storytelling, and my desire to capture wisdom from the elders, I created The Black Family Photo Album. I pray that this experience bridges the gap between generations and demonstrates the rich legacies that black families have established world wide.

I don’t take this work lightly. It is an honor to be invited into your home and into the heart of what makes your family special. It’s a privilege to hear the wisdom of your grandmothers and uncles, those who have seen, felt, and experienced things we could never imagine. It’s a joy to capture the wrinkles in a great-grandfather’s smile or hear the laughter of your grandmother as you all gather. These are the moments we wish we could hold onto forever because nothing is permanent. I hope I can help you and future generations carry these memories and moments in your hearts for as long as possible.

I cannot wait to meet you and your people.

Greetings & Salutations!

Yvonne