These are my people. You’ve met them before.

But you’ve never seen a picture of them put together in one frame before. And neither had I, until I saw this photo, shot by my aunt.

My aunt is a remarkable woman and one who has been an inspiration to me throughout the course of my life. In fact, she – a talented and passionate photographer herself – first inspired me to consider photography more seriously.

When we were all in the mountains of Colorado several months ago, she quickly snapped this photograph. And I’m very grateful to her for doing so.

When we’re young, photographs tend to be of our families. Sometimes childhood friends also grace the frames, but mostly, the snapshot memories are of your siblings and parents.

As we get older, other people start making appearances beside us, significant others. Timidly at first, then more frequently, then constantly, until their absence in such photos is more startling than their first introduction.

Then families grow, tiny humans are added to bundles in arms and then peering shyly behind legs.

And eventually, if you’re lucky, the people in the frame – in your family – number in the double digits. They are loud and smiley and perhaps a little out of hand, but content in their wildness.

You can then put the photos side-by-side-by side on your wall. A family tree time line. You can see the growth right there in front of you. Of the one, then another, then the more and the many.

And finally the whole.

These are my people, as they look right now. I can’t wait to see what we look like – and who else will grace our time line – years from now.

A very big thank you to my aunt for this photo. You have contributed more than a few photos to our time line over the years and I can’t tell you how much we love and appreciate you for that.