Proof of Existence

The First Time I Saw My Father's Face

Family photography isn't vanity. It's evidence. It's the document that proves someone was here, that they mattered, that they lived. For many Black families, those documents are rare — and the ones that exist carry extra weight.

Imagine waiting your entire life to see what your father looks like — and realizing the first photo you find of him is of a man younger than you are now.

2019: The Aunt I Never Met and the Photo She Sent

Back in 2019, I did a people-finder search and tracked down my father's family. An aunt I'd never met sent me a photo of my father — someone I'd never met. For the first time in my life, I saw his face.

It felt like what I imagine a visually impaired person might experience the first time they see light, shape, or color. I stared at the image on my phone for a long time.

The irony landed hard: the first picture I ever saw of him was of a man younger than I am now. I was old enough to be his father. That's a strange thing to carry.

Photography, Access, and Black American History

From what I've learned, my father wasn't about the camera. In the few photos that exist, he's turned away or caught mid-motion, like he's escaping the frame. Relatives would point to a blurry figure and say, "That's your father."

The early days of photography have always been about access. For many African Americans in earlier generations, photos were rare luxuries. The best portraits they had were often taken in uniform — military photos that granted them a dignity they weren't granted as civilians.

The only photo I have of my maternal grandfather is a military portrait too.

Time Tattoos: Why Photography Matters

I wish I could see more dimension to my father and grandfather. I want to see images that showed their laughter, their warmth, their spirit. But I'm grateful the military documented their existence at all.

Photos like these are time tattoos. They serve as proof that someone was here, that they mattered, that they lived.

As a photographer, I know how easy it is to take these moments for granted. But this image — my father's clean-shaven face framed on my wall — reminds me why photography is important. Wishing all the veterans peace today.

Work with Black Shutter Productions

Black Shutter Productions tells stories that matter: brand films, family legacy work, and documentaries that treat images like the historical documents they are. If you have a story that deserves preserving, reach out.