My Easter plans to visit family have been derailed by current events - and I'm sure I'm not the only one!

Since everyone is home (already with family, if they're lucky), why not commemorate this historic time with a family portrait - from a safe distance, of course. Even - or perhaps especially - if you're alone this weekend, come out on the porch, meet your neighbors, and help make our community stronger!

Inspired by the success of similar efforts (see the Front Porch Project Facebook Page, I'd like to bring this to Pittsburgh! (At least the North Hills, where I'm based.)

Each afternoon this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, 4/11-4/12, 1-4), I will drive around and do free family portraits on your porch or lawn - with a long lens, from the street. Send me an email with your name, address, and time range you plan on being out, and I will plan my route accordingly. I'll send your portrait back by email, and -- with your permission -- post it in the Front Porch Project gallery.

2020 will go down in history as a watershed event of this century. Future generations, and those now too young to understand, will one day ask - "What did you do during the pandemic?" The goal of this project is to create an image you can show them as an answer. You can say "I stood by my family, and my community."

Send your emails to [email protected], or call (412) 400-0394. I hope to see many of you this weekend!

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Click here for example portraits from around the country

And here

Tips and Guidelines

• Try to get the entire household in the image - including pets! Cats, dogs, hamsters, fish - they're all part of this, too. (If everyone's healthy, of course. if anyone is in isolation, perhaps they could come to a window, or you could bring a picture or memento to represent them.)
• Include items that symbolize this period for you - objects you will remember for years to come. Have you been playing family Monopoly or some other board game every night for a month? Bring it out for the picture. Have you been wearing the same slippers for weeks? Wear them in the picture. Does your child have a favorite toy, blanket, or other comfort object that has helped during the crisis? The goal is to glance at this photo 10 or 20 years from now, and immediately think "Yup, that was us in quarantine! Look at that crazy sweater mom wore every day!"
• There are some good examples above. Of course, they don't have to be elaborate or goofy - unless that fits your personality and how you're living through this crisis. We aren't making cheesy "pandemic" stock photos here - the idea is to communicate to future generations how your family coped during this time, in a manner authentic to you.