by Madi Cavell

The photography in Zero to Five is beautiful, but it is also strikingly real.

The people in the photographs are not models, and the rooms are not sets. These are real families going about their normal lives in their own homes and neighborhoods.

Photographer Betty Udesen captured laughter and tears, relaxation and tension, and many of the very real joys and challenges of parenting during the time she spent with 17 different Seattle families.

The families were often friends or acquaintances of people on the Zero to Five team, but there was also the occasional surprise addition. For example, Wheeler (left) was a neighbor who came over to play with Zach (right) while Betty was with his family.

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Betty describes photography as a form of communication, and the ultimate goal behind the Zero to Five photos is to communicate the realities of parenthood.

Spending three to five hours with each family allowed the parents and children to get comfortable with Betty, which gave her the opportunity to take photos without too much disruption to their everyday routines.

Betty used a smaller lens in hopes that the children would be more comfortable with the camera’s presence. The families said they seemed to forget that the camera was even there. The results were images of everyday activities, serious teaching moments, restful lulls, and children at play.

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Capturing the special relationship between a parent and a child was a main focus for Betty: “The relationships I saw between parents and children were wonderful. It was even a gift to me when a child’s emotions brought them to tears, simply because I knew that they had that level of safety and comfort with their parents—something I was looking to photograph.” She also saw the way parents cultivated that feeling of security by showing empathy and a willingness to explain things to their children.

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Betty’s thoughts on the project? “I have lots of favorite pictures and favorite moments. It was invigorating to go into different neighborhoods and hang out with different people. I got to witness and photograph so much love.”

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Written by

Tracy Cutchlow

Tracy is the author of the international bestseller Zero to Five: 70 Essential Parenting Tips Based on Science, a public speaker, and a creator of places to speak and be heard. Sign up for her newsletter here.