We are Family
At the start of lockdown, photographer Mark Smith began documenting family life, capturing the intimate moments of his partner Lucy, son Jack and dog Pearl. With the move to level 3, Mark extended the project with Shut The Front
Door — a series of photographs taken from afar of other families or groups in lockdown, with beautifully candid moments captured on their front doorsteps, balconies or hanging out of windows. “I was able to travel all over the city and I totally loved capturing this moment in time in such a way,” says Mark. “It revitalised my love of portraiture and it was a privilege to share in people’s lives and hear their stories on how they were coping. There were some very serious issues people were facing — some were looking at losing their businesses, having to sell their homes, or facing stressful medical challenges. “Having an official family portrait is no longer a thing really, and for these everyone was so casual, no one dressed up, they literally just came to the door as they were at the time I called. It showed a real sense of good will and I was really quite honoured to be, just for a wee while, part of the intimacy that is daily family life.”
• See more portraits on Instagram @mrmrsmithnz or visit Marksmith.co.nz