Photographer Looks for Family in Found Photos
By: Laine Baker
Updated: February 21, 2013
Kate Crafton captures the moments of people's lives.
"I'm a photographer, it means a lot to me," Crafton said.
She has photographed hundreds of families, but right now her focus is on a set of photos she didn't even take.
"It's fascinating for me to see that family on the roll of film," she said.
A few years ago Crafton's husband bought her two cameras online. When she opened the box she also found two rolls of film, one blank, one showing a family trip.
"As an adult you don't get to do treasure hunts that often, so it's really enjoyable to try to figure out the mystery," Crafton said.
As part of her 33rd birthday this year, she wants to perform 33 acts of kindness. At the top of the list, returning these pictures to the family who took them.
"The kids in the pictures are probably my parent's age," Crafton said. "I would love for them to have them and see their parents in a picture - and if it was a vacation they could have that memory of the trip they took as a family."
She recently posted the pictures to her work website - looking for help.
"I was contacted by a license plate historian," Crafton said. "I didn't even know that was a thing."
Thousands have come to Crafton's page, playing detective.
"People have really latched onto it like it's a treasure hunt," she said.
With more than 1,500 visits on just the first day of her post, people she doesn't even know have given Crafton more than 50 clues.
"It has been really helpful, other people volunteering their time to help me find these other people," she said.
Crafton admits her curiosity has pushed her search, but for her this is also personal. A few years ago she lost her own camera on a family trip in Tennessee.
"It guts me that I don't have those pictures still," she said. "Every time I see an image, especially of my family, I remember the smells, the sounds...it brings back a small moment that you remember."
Small, but important moments Crafton would like to return to a family she has never even met.
To look at the photos, and see if you can offer some clues, go to: www.katecrafton.com.
"I'm a photographer, it means a lot to me," Crafton said.
She has photographed hundreds of families, but right now her focus is on a set of photos she didn't even take.
"It's fascinating for me to see that family on the roll of film," she said.
A few years ago Crafton's husband bought her two cameras online. When she opened the box she also found two rolls of film, one blank, one showing a family trip.
"As an adult you don't get to do treasure hunts that often, so it's really enjoyable to try to figure out the mystery," Crafton said.
As part of her 33rd birthday this year, she wants to perform 33 acts of kindness. At the top of the list, returning these pictures to the family who took them.
"The kids in the pictures are probably my parent's age," Crafton said. "I would love for them to have them and see their parents in a picture - and if it was a vacation they could have that memory of the trip they took as a family."
She recently posted the pictures to her work website - looking for help.
"I was contacted by a license plate historian," Crafton said. "I didn't even know that was a thing."
Thousands have come to Crafton's page, playing detective.
"People have really latched onto it like it's a treasure hunt," she said.
With more than 1,500 visits on just the first day of her post, people she doesn't even know have given Crafton more than 50 clues.
"It has been really helpful, other people volunteering their time to help me find these other people," she said.
Crafton admits her curiosity has pushed her search, but for her this is also personal. A few years ago she lost her own camera on a family trip in Tennessee.
"It guts me that I don't have those pictures still," she said. "Every time I see an image, especially of my family, I remember the smells, the sounds...it brings back a small moment that you remember."
Small, but important moments Crafton would like to return to a family she has never even met.
To look at the photos, and see if you can offer some clues, go to: www.katecrafton.com.
