Documenting Baby Teeth Smiles

I was once asked in an interview what photography means to me. There was a time when I might have answered self-expression or an artistic outlet, but I wouldn’t say that now. Those things are a part of it because I bring myself into my photography (my experiences, my view of what’s important, etc.) but they’re no longer my purpose. I’ve come to the conclusion that, for me, the most important thing about photography is documenting. I want to do this in a beautiful, artistic way, but I’m no longer interested in using my photography to make a grand statement about who I am as an artist. I find more artistic fulfillment when the photos are less about me and more about stories about families—family bonds, family sagas, family lore. This is a more universal conversation about themes that are greater than me. This is a deeper pool for me to swim in.

What does this have to do with documentary family photography and documenting baby teeth smiles? Everything; an entire story can be found in the relentless, forward motion of baby teeth erupting, falling out, and then being replaced by adult teeth. This is a story about change and childhood—a universal saga if ever there was one! A while back I worked with a family for the second time, this time with the goal of documenting their little boy’s smile. It was full of wiggles and wobbles and on the cusp of changing forever. I was so happy to oblige because this is what photography is for me—a documentation of the next plot twist in the story.