Desiree Walters is a Brooklyn-based documentary family photographer with a focus on creating storytelling images for families with newborns and children of all ages. Her goal is to make tangible and descriptive memories for families, allowing them to travel to the past and see how they loved each other and experience through their photos the unique moments in their everyday interactions. Desiree has always needed something physical to bring her back to a memory, and photos have provided her this trip to the past for as long as she can remember (jewelry and coffee mugs are some others!). She fell in love with documentary photography while chasing her two children around during her 365 projects, realizing how much she loved creating a visual timeline of her own family’s moments, emotions, and connections. This is the stuff a parent wants to hold onto forever, and that is her goal – to make the moments and emotions last forever.
Awards Gallery
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9th Place Award in the “Nothing Is Better Than Real Life” category. Photo by Desiree Walters, United States.
Honorable Mention in the “Grandparents” category. Photo by Desiree Walters, United States.
1st Place in the “Routine” category. Photo by Desiree Walters, United States.
Judges Choice Award selected by Dylan E. Richards Photo Series by Desiree Walters, United States.
Judges Choice Award selected by Dylan E. Richards Photo Series by Desiree Walters, United States.
Judges Choice Award selected by Dylan E. Richards Photo Series by Desiree Walters, United States.
Judges Choice Award selected by Dylan E. Richards Photo Series by Desiree Walters, United States.
Judges Choice Award selected by Dylan E. Richards Photo Series by Desiree Walters, United States.
Judges Choice Award selected by Dylan E. Richards Photo Series by Desiree Walters, United States.
Judges Choice Award selected by Dylan E. Richards Photo Series by Desiree Walters, United States.
Judges Choice Award selected by Dylan E. Richards Photo Series by Desiree Walters, United States.
After detoxing at a local hospital Luke and his family search for a rehab center, but new patients are not admitted over the weekends. That night Luke dies of a drug overdose, leaving behind his healthy daughter.
Luke cannot maintain his sobriety. Weeks after returning from rehab he begins using heroin again. He still participates in family traditions, such as strawberry picking.
B. (name omitted for privacy) looks at her father on her first birthday. Despite being born prematurely and addicted to drugs she is healthy and meeting her developmental milestones.
Luke, feeding B. (name omitted for privacy), struggles with the balance of caring for himself and his addiction, and caring for his daughter.
Luke and B. (name omitted for privacy) video chat with B’s mother who is fighting to gain visitation rights with her daughter.
Luke lives with his parents who have custody of B. (name omitted for privacy). He participates in family traditions such as coloring Easter eggs with his daughter, niece and nephew.
Luke, who did not know he would be a father until B. (name omitted for privacy) was born, bonds with her in the NICU as she fights her addiction and struggles to gain her health.
Luke holds his daughter’s hand after she arrived unexpectedly at 26 weeks. Weighing 2 lbs 11 oz, born addicted to opiates, and suffering from bronchopulmonary dysplasia, it is not expected that she will survive.
The Documentary Family Awards is an international competition in search of the insightful and meaningful ways that documentary photographers explore the interpretation of family.
