As this country's middle class slowly disappears, I turn to my family members to capture a fading American story. The images of my relatives, while deeply personal, also relay the daily lives of people like us, Americans who find themselves in the middle of the country and the economic spectrum.

Tragedy and triumph ebb and flow. Old furniture serves as a backdrop to fresh and painful drama. Lies and jokes and storytelling happen on back porches, punctuated by cigarettes and beer. These people aren't just my subjects; they are my loved ones. My photographs serve as a personal document of our story and the stories of millions of Americans like us.