Why Multigenerational Family Photography Matters in Tucson

Two years ago, my 93-year-old father-in-law, Rolf, passed away. Writing about him now, I realize how much his story reflects why I am so passionate about multigenerational and documentary family photography.

Something funny about Rolf was that he never liked posed photos. Every time someone pointed a camera at him, he would look off into the distance trying to appear more natural. In all our group shots, you will see everyone smiling at the camera, and there is Rolf, looking contemplatively away. Never a smile, because to him that would feel too fake. In many ways, he was ahead of his time, the original documentary subject.

Whenever we visited my in-laws in Germany, I would bring my big monster camera and quietly document the little moments. Conversations, laughter, the way he interacted with our daughter. At first, I was not sure if he found it annoying, but over time he grew to appreciate the images. Today I am beyond grateful that I never stopped photographing.

When Rolf passed, my husband and his sister searched for photos to share at his service. What they found were not the posed portraits but my documentary images. Moments with his granddaughter, quiet scenes at home, the kind of pictures that tell a story. They became the photographs that helped the family laugh, cry, and remember. They are the images that now keep his memory alive.

This experience reminded me why documenting all generations matters so deeply. These are not just pictures for today. They are visual stories that will comfort, connect, and carry forward for decades. I am so thankful that my daughter will always have these images of her Opa, and my husband of his dad.

Here is to Rolf, the original documentary fan, and to the gift of photography that helps us hold on to the people we love.