Every Family

There is something quite powerful about a family photo. It shows that you are a part of something bigger than you. It is a daily reminder and motivator to keep putting one foot in front of the other and face all odds for these people you love. Family is everything. Family photos capture our “why” for so many things. Every Family deserves this experience and a photo to place on their wall.

The “Every Family” initiative wants to give families photos and prints that might otherwise not be able to afford it. We also want to reclaim photography and the ways it is used in our community. Photography should be used to capture God’s creation in a way that brings dignity, humanity, and joy.

The Every Family initiative is looking for families who have faced challenges and adversity, yet have shown incredible resilience through it all. Upon nomination, careful selections will be made from our small board. We will award a select number of families per month a photography session that includes a printed photo and frame for their home or place of residence. Every Family is also looking for non-profit organizations to be nominated that are working to help families. Upon nomination and selection, Every Family will offer family photography to the families that work with the non-profit or gift a few hours of photography for an event of the chosen non-profit that supports families.

The heart behind Every Family started many years ago on a trip to India. We knew we would be working in the slum schools and when we asked the question “ How can we help?” it was noted that the families we would be working with did not have a single photo of their children in their home or a family photo. The children had never seen a picture of themselves. That experience was transformational in more ways than one. A team of us took photos, printed them out, and delivered family photos and “school photos” to the mothers in the slums of India.

Currently we are partnering with the Arlington Life Shelter to deliver family and individual photos on an on going basis. The Arlington Life shelter serves families impacted by homelessness in the North Texas area by promoting self-sufficiency, providing shelter, employment programs and transitional service.
Since the turnover rate is about every 3 months, Every Family will have the honor to take family photos multiple times a year at the shelter. This Christmas was very special as families were able to take first time family photos and have prints and frames to place in their (hopefully soon) forever home or maybe even just in their bed in the shelter. We are also partnering with The Net in Fort Worth, TX to offering empowering photos of women and their children who are survivors of human trafficking. This organization is amazing, check them out and support their amazing call to action: Fighting for a world where girls are not for sale. We also work with families who have moved to the USA as refugees. We provide family photos for them as they resettle into their new country and new home.

Examples for nominees would be: single parent homes on a single income, homeless families, refugee families, families who have experienced hardship. If you have a special circumstance in mind, please note it in the submission form.

If you want to support the Every Family initiative in a financial gift for frames and prints then please click the below button to donate and make sure and write “Every Family” in the comments. Currently I only have PayPal set up for this although there is definitely a space to add a credit card.

Feel free to contact me at: Unearthedphotographyart@gmail.com if you would like to send a check/cash or donate 5x10 and 8x10 new picture frames.

Above all, please be in prayer for all the families who are nominated and for Every Family to have the same opportunity to receive the gift of family and individual photos that bring dignity, humanity, and joy.

Many Blessings,

Jennifer Smith

Unearthed Photography