“The Family Portrait Project is a thought-provoking series that takes a look at the alternative reality behind the life of former gang members and the way their lifestyles could have affected their families. Former gang members are photographers with their families in the first portrait, introducing the viewer to them and their place within the family structure. The second portrait gives the viewer insight into what could have been by showing the family posed next to an empty chair. The empty chair becomes a powerful symbol of the loss many families of gang members deal with. By looking at what their family portrait could have looked like, it enables people the space to think about how our actions impact our future and how the choices we make can affect our loved ones.”