Pinfeathers

Pinfeathers tells the story of the women in my family: My mother, two younger sisters, and me. Our shared story is shaped by cycles of abuse, addiction, and mental health issues. Experiences like ours often get repeated and passed down through families because they are issues fought in silence, especially among working-class families like ours. This body of work is about making stories like ours visible, offering a raw and intimate portrayal of what survival looks like for us.
I started this project with my sisters when they were 12 and 16, capturing moments that reflected the specific phases they were experiencing at that time in their lives as well as the struggles they were facing.. I was devastated to see my own struggles with bullying, abuse, and self-harm repeated in their lives, and I felt helpless trying to protect them. In the 2 years since I started this project, both of my sisters have attempted suicide multiple times. Experiences like ours are not unique to us, but devastatingly common amongst young women.
I am using photography to bring my sisters and me together, to show that our lives are not disposable, to capture the beauty and resilience we share despite our fractured lives. Through intimate portraits, I aim to honor our complexity and strength, and to show the quiet power of familial connection.
In conversations with my mother, I’ve come to understand that her own childhood was marked by similar struggles, which have been passed down through generations. Legacies of abuse and the expectations placed upon us as women are deeply ingrained in our shared history.
I seek to represent not only our family but also the countless others who face similar struggles without adequate support. I’ve used photography not only as a form of expression but also as a tool for healing and advocacy. My images are evidence of care, storytelling, and how important resources are. By documenting our reality, I hope to connect with others who feel unseen and push for greater mental health support for girls like my sisters and me. This is both my art and my responsibility.