The Front Steps Project: Daniel Island, South Carolina

While scrolling through Instagram late one night in March, I stumbled upon photos of families photographed on their front porches. It was just days in to settling into our new normal. These front step photos weren’t like the typical family portraits you might see on the gram and in the best way possible. That’s when I discovered Cara Soulia and The Front Steps Project™. Cara is a family and newborn photographer based in Boston, Massachusetts and is the creator of the The Front Steps Project™.

The Front Steps Project™ is created to bring people together at a time when we’re so isolated. Cara posted her first family porch picture on March 17, 2020. A week later, with very little planning, I shared the idea on social media and the response was overwhelming. In less than 24 hours, I had over 50 Daniel Island families interested in front step photos.

Over the span of 10 days, I photographed 70 families and a cul-de-sac of kids sidewalk- chalk artists in 7 days. The sessions were unlike my typical family sessions. They were super quick 5-minute sessions, from a distance of at least 10 feet away and there was no physical contact at all. Most of these sessions you could find me in the middle of the street, standing on my step ladder, snapping away.

These are the faces of Daniel Island, South Carolina.

These beautiful families include ER doctors and VA anesthesiologists, first responders and EMTs, dentists and physicians, teachers and stay-at-home moms, college students and seniors, small business owners and bloggers, the Tiger King and Carole Baskin, expecting mothers and a young cancer patient.

These are neighbors, friends, past clients and many of them were strangers. These are the smiling faces we might normally see while going to the grocery store, church, at school drop off or the playground.

This project has been pretty special for me and my community, unlike anything I have ever done since starting my photography business. What makes it so amazing for family photographers, like myself, it has given us the opportunity to promote the importance of social distancing and staying-at-home through social media while also giving back.

Most importantly it has allowed communities to raise needed funds for local nonprofits who are in need during this pandemic.

My porch sessions are free and in exchange families are asked to make a good faith monetary donation of any amount to our local food pantry, the Lowcountry Food Bank or an agency of their choice.

To date, we’ve raised almost $4,500 and counting!

According to The Front Steps Project website, as of April 16, more than 200 photographers replicating #TheFrontStepsProject in their own communities (like myself), have raised over $500,000 for local food pantries, hospitals, animal shelters and more!

I’ve learned so much as a photographer during this project. Before starting, I completely underestimated the amount of time it would take to respond, organize and map out each day. Carving out the time to cull, edit and deliver all the photographs has been the most challenging part thus far. But these amazing families and their kind words, inspiring stories and donations have been my biggest motivation. As a mom of two energetic boys, one of which is three and doesn’t like to be away from his mommy (and who could care less about watching tv), it has been difficult to find a balance.

As challenging as it has been to find a rhythm during a time of such uncertainty, this project has given these families (and myself) a moment to look forward to, to smile and be silly, to document this historic time, to give us an excuse to put on clothes without an elastic waste, to get some fresh air and to give back.

My original plan was to provide a single edited photo to each family. I’m proud to say, after many late nights, I’ve delivered over 700 photographs!

Trewin Court Sidewalk Chalk

(click on the photos below to enlarge them)

Thank you so much to all the smiling faces of Daniel Island and Beresford Creek Landing neighborhoods.

Charleston you are AMAZING!

Thank you for your kind words, support, and incredibly generous donations.

To anyone who is interested in a session, the project is currently paused for the health and safety of everyone. I hope to continue a limited amount of sessions once it’s safe to do so. Thank you :)

The 365 Project {2020}: January

Before ringing in the new year (the beginning of a new decade and the year I turn 40), I knew I wanted do something more.

What that something was, I didn’t know.

As a family photographer and someone who uses social media as an outlet to share and connect with others, I find myself inspired daily by talented lifestyle photographers who share their everyday lives through beautiful images. Many who post daily, regardless of how ordinary the day might be or seem. Those are the moments I want to remember and the moments I want to freeze in time, those are the memories I want to document for my family.

So as the clock struck midnight and we welcomed 2020, I made the commitment to myself, along with a group of other photographers, to take one photograph each day for one year…The 365 Project.

Seems pretty simple…right?

Not even close. And for so many reasons.

In order to do a project like this, I knew I would have to have my boys on board. My boys are currently 6 (6 and a half if you ask him) and 3 years old. Like many boys (and girls I’m sure), they rarely want their picture taken. It’s a constant balancing act for me as a mom and photographer. As someone who loves having my camera on me all the time to capture those special moments, I don’t want my boys always feeling like a camera is in their face. Because of this, there’s been many days this month that I have photograph a fleeting moment as it’s happening- no planning, no grand vision, many photographs taken with almost no time to adjust my settings and many times moments they don’t even realize I have my camera. Just authentic, messy, but real life moments.

And then there’s been days, many of which were during the school week, that I had to carve out a few minutes before the night ended to take my photo of the day. Almost every day after school I’ve asked my boys if they had any fun ideas for a picture or if I could take a quick photo of them. I have loved their input. Documenting the world around them through their ideas and vision has been so much fun for us. They both love (like most kids) seeing the image immediately after it’s taken and many times this inspires them to try something new or direct me in some way. I love their creativity and it pushes me too. Those have become some of my most favorite images this month. Again, not a lot of planning and sometimes activities or things only a parent could love and appreciate, but still moments I will forever cherish.

And then the days that I’ve had no motivation to take a single photo (day 19, day 22 and day 30)- let alone cull, edit and share them. But I want to stick to my goal, something I sadly rarely do these days. I might not love every single photo on it’s own and many of them might not be share worthy, but as I whole I’m pretty obsessed.

So without further ado….here’s my every day moments of January 2020 (31 days).

The time it snowed in Charleston...

I’m feeling a little nostalgic today, the forecast predicts snow tonight into tomorrow and I’m giddy with excitement!!

Because I miss snow!

I never realized how much I missed snow until Charleston’s “snow storm” last winter.

Last January (right after the New Year), Charleston, South Carolina (my home for the past 12 years) got a lot of snow…a lot of snow for the beautiful city that rarely sees snow. Snow falls in Charleston maybe every 5-10 years. And this snow was different than a small flurry of snow flakes that within hours melts away from the sun.

We got snow! Lots of snow…all day and all night!

At that moment when the sky was gray and everything around us was covered in a blanket of fresh fluffy powder, I remembered how much I loved and missed snow.

And seeing my four year old son’s eyes light up as he ran outside to play, was icing on the snow sprinkled cake…and in that moment it solidified my hopes of moving back home to Maine!

We were not equipped at all for snowfall, hence my son’s rain boots and blue khaki pants (don’t worry, he did have footie pajamas underneath for an extra layer). His jacket, hat and mittens however were purchased only weeks before for our visit to see grandma over Christmas.

This bulldozer was a Christmas gift and was the perfect snow scooper.

These two (my son and the best neighbor friend we could ask for) had the whole street to themselves, with not a sole in site.

It was pretty magical to witness and capture.

Her tongue out…is there anything more fun than eating snow as a kid?

Photographing in the snow was a first for me and is probably my favorite thus far. It was pure magic and I couldn’t get enough of these two together and the beauty around us.

Everything was so quiet and peaceful around us, just the sound of their laughter and excitement.

Buddy, our neighbor dog, had to see what the big fuss was all about.

Umm, how practical is a scooter in the snow!

Our puppy Myrtle (who isn’t much of a puppy anymore), came out too. She however, unlike my boys, had seen and played in fresh snow as a puppy back home in New England…almost 12 years ago.

Stay tuned for part two…it’s filled with tractor rides through streets lined in snow-covered Palmetto trees (aka palm trees), my youngest son’s first time seeing snow and the neighborhood kids “sledding” on every item you can think of (hint…laundry baskets, pizza boxes and even a baby pool)!