A heartfelt tribute to those facing tragedy and grief.
A COLLABORATION WITH PATHFINDERS
Portraits of Grief
After many years as neighbors and friends, raising our children together in this beautiful mountain town, Allison Daily and I always knew we wanted to collaborate on something meaningful. Through long walks and deep conversations, that idea evolved into Portraits of Grief—a project rooted in both our friendship and a deep mutual respect for the work we each do.
With Allison’s role as a grief counselor and Executive Director of Pathfinders, and my experience as a portrait photographer, we saw the potential for photography to become a powerful tool for those navigating loss. I have always been drawn to portraiture as a way to reveal what isn’t immediately visible—to the subject or the viewer—and together, we created a space where grief can be expressed, witnessed, and better understood.
Our hope is that those who participate feel safe opening up and sharing their stories, and that the process itself becomes part of their healing. One grieving mother shared that participating felt like “a way of giving back after so much time being shut down.” These portraits are a heartfelt tribute to those living with loss—an offering of connection, visibility, and, ultimately, the possibility of healing.
The portraits below are a preview of the larger project sharing the grief journeys of approximately 20 community members. Through portraiture and personal storytelling, each participant reflects on loss and their path toward healing.
For this special preview, each portrait is accompanied by a selected quote from the participant’s interview, responding to the prompt:
IF YOUR GRIEF COULD TALK, WHAT WOULD IT SAY?
JULIE & MICHAEL KENNEDY
IN MEMORY OF THEIR SON HAYDEN
"Sadness must coexist with a thirst for living a full and joyous life."
ALYSSA SHENK GENSHAFT
IN MEMORY OF HER SON MAX
"Don’t let me swallow you."
RYAN SMALLS
IN MEMORY OF HIS MOTHER KAREN & FATHER RAY
"I am opportunity and growth deeply wrapped in loss and pain.
Come find me!"
PAULA GODFREY EATON
IN MEMORY OF HER FAMILY THE GODFREYS BILL, DINEEN, ELLEN & BILLY
"You are not alone, we are walking alongside you."
ASHLEY ADAMS
IN MEMORY OF HER SISTER EMILY
"Turn pain into purpose instead of letting it harden your heart."
AIDEE MONDRAGON
IN MEMORY OF HER SON ERICK
"Love."
ART DAILY
IN MEMORY OF HIS FAMILY KATHY, TANNER & SHEA
"Feel me, allow me to move through you to get to a place of honoring those you lost."
JOYCE SHENK
IN MEMORY OF HER TWIN SISTER JANICE & GRANDSON MAX
"Grief ebbs and flows, and when it gets you down, memories of them will lift you back up."
It is deeply important to both of us that Portraits of Grief reflects a diverse range of experiences—different types of loss, varying lengths of time since loss, and a wide spectrum of ages, ethnicities, and genders. Each participant is invited into a safe, supportive environment of their choosing, where being photographed becomes an act of courage and empowerment. By bringing grief into the open, we begin to reveal what so often remains hidden beneath the surface.
What has surprised us most is how profoundly the act of sharing supports healing. Grief can feel incredibly isolating, and when someone loses a loved one, friends and community members often struggle with what to say or how to show up. This project creates a bridge—offering a way to better understand the many forms grief can take, and the evolving nature of the healing process.
MY HUSBAND, ART DAILY, WAS THE FIRST PARTICIPANT IN THE PORTRAITS OF GRIEF PROJECT. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL AFTERNOON AND I FELT DEEPLY VULNERABLE AND YET THE EXPERIENCE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND HEALING. THIS PROJECT IS SO RAW AND MEANINGFUL. MICHELE IS MASTERFUL IN CAPTURING GRIEF AND LOVE THROUGH THE LENS. EACH PARTICIPANT HAS FELT SEEN AND HEARD THROUGH THE PROJECT. IT HAS BEEN SUCH A GIFT TO WORK WITH MICHELE AND TO WITNESS HER TALENTS.
— Allison Daily
Executive Director of Pathfinders
Through these portraits, we hope to foster greater compassion, connection, and awareness within our community. While loss will always be a part of life, sharing these stories reminds us that there can be beauty even in the darkest moments—and that being seen, supported, and understood is an essential part of healing.