Welcome, and thank you for your interest in The Universal Family portrait project.

As one family the human race is ever changing. This project  shows how diverse a nuclear family can be and how beautiful that is. It explores the differences and similarities in everyday family life around the world. Family is a support system and that support system is the most important thing in the world; It should not be judged or limited. Families can be big or small, blood related or not, same sex oriented or not, and of course composed of similar or wildly different cultural backgrounds. If you're lucky you truly understand that love has no boundaries. 

I believe it is important for us to remember that the majority of us just want to live in harmony with each other and our loved ones. In this, The Universal Family becomes not only about expanding our views on what makes a family, but magnifying a world wide acceptance of what’s different no matter what angle you're viewing from. When you see that we are all after the same goal, you see that what we fight is an invisible enemy manifested in those that choose hate over love. That enemy only subsides when we choose love over hate. 

The viewing of back to back imagery of diverse families around the world starkly illustrates our idiosyncratic differences but more importantly our fundamental similarities as a family unit. Let us not feed into the divide of our cultures and orientations, but embrace one another's differences, lead people to love, and remain one Universal Family. 

This series is international and photos are composed in a manner unique to the family being photographed. The photos will be collected into a book and traveling exhibition with text explaining a little bit about each family and any comments they’d like to add about their own unique experience as a family. 

The Universal Family is individually run and self funded. We are always seeking assistance, whether it be a family to photograph, a local translator and/or guide , grants/sponsorships, and words of encouragement. If you should wish to participate please visit the contact page, explain the interest of your involvement and inquire with any questions you may have.  

Thank you so much for your support and hope to meet with you all!

I can’t wait to shoot the new family of the new millennium!!!
.xo. Michele Crowe .xo.

All photography ©Michele Crowe, 2021