After Life, Life After

Vanessa's photo book series shown below tells a story about the change her grandmother experienced after her grandfather passed away. Vanessa captured many of her grandmother's personal moments of grief, both at home and at her grandfather's crypt. She also found old images in her grandmother's photo albums, that she used to share the story of their life together. Vanessa hopes this photo book will help those experiencing grief feel a little closer to their loved ones who have passed. “Growing up, I was very close to my grandparents. They were like parents to me. When I was 11 years old, my grandfather passed away on Christmas morning. I remember being at home and hearing my grandmother cry out, calling to my grandfather. Watching my grandma’s daily routine and frame of mind change drastically right after he passed, was really difficult. Photographing and collecting images for this book was a challenging and tiring experience. I went through many photos that showed my grandparents’ 59 years of marriage together. Working on this series opened my eyes to just how fresh my grandfather’s death still feels today to all of us in my family. It has been 12 years since he died, and it still feels like we just lost him. This book has allowed me to process my grief and to feel connected to him once again. My grandmother is still with us, but a part of her left with my grandfather the day he died. “After Life Life After” takes you through the past and into the present of my grandmother’s life journey with and without my grandfather. This is her story.”