Upstairs/Downstairs—Portraits of a Couple is a photography project documenting the shared yet individual spaces of my parents, Sharon and Giulio, who have lived together for 58 years. 

Initially I sought to capture vignettes of the different spaces within my parents’ home without manipulating any of the objects. However, the more I photographed, I began to see how their house reflected their individual personalities and mirrored their relationship.

My parents are each fiercely independent, have very different personalities, come from different cultures and speak different languages, yet, have been able to respect each other’s individuality all the while finding connection and common ground in their shared spaces.

To be human means accepting the existence of duality and navigating the opposing yet interconnected forces that inform our identity and lived experiences.

Photographing Sharon and Giulio’s spaces allowed me to witness a couple anchored in their individuality, yet walking life’s path in support of each other.

They are together yet apart.