AUSTIN, Texas – Even from six feet away photographers Chris Lammert and Keelyn Costello are on a mission to capture special moments.

  • Austin photographers documenting families' time social distancing
  • They take photos while families stand on their porches

“We think that now more than ever people are just needing something to lift their spirits," said Costello.

After seeing how people started staying home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the two photographers launched FrontPortraits as a way to safely connect with the community.

It’s a free project in which Lammert and Costello photograph families standing on their porches from a distance.

“We are limited to a front porch so we are having to get pretty creative to where we pose each family, but it’s been a fun process,” said Costello.

“We found out that there are a bunch of stories behind those photos. You know, everyone is going through something right now and the photo project sort of took on a life of its own,” said Lammert.

 
 
 
 
 
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After seeing how people started staying home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the two Texas photographers launched @frontportraits as a way to safely connect with the community. It’s a free project where photographers Chris Lammert and Keelyn Costello photograph families standing on their porches from a distance. “We are limited to a front porch so we are having to get pretty creative to where we pose each family and so but it’s been a fun process,” said Costello. “We found out that there are a bunch of stories behind those photos. You know, everyone is going through something right now and the photo project sort of took on a life of its own,” said Lammert. Swipe to see some of the images they’ve taken so far. #onetexas

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For first-time parents Valerie and Jason Archer, the photo shoot was the only way to show off their daughter to family who still can't leave their home.

“I think our families that will see the photos— it’s almost heartbreaking to hear our parents’ reactions to how much she has grown,” said Valerie Archer.

But there is a positive for families through this crisis— something Valerie will tell baby Ruby Jean when she's older.

"I think we will tell her that it was a time we valued keeping the community safe and her safe and used it as an opportunity to spend time together,” said Valerie Archer. 

“Having something for families to cherish forever and look back on and realize that they got through it,” said Costello.