HOBOKEN, N.J. (WCBS 880) — Photographers near and far are taking family portraits to benefit charities as part of an initiative called the Front Steps Project.
"I don't know how else to help, but this is something I can do to give everybody some sense of joy in some pretty dark times," Gerlach tells WCBS 880's Peter Haskell. "It's really for me, personally, gratifying and it puts my life very much in my perspective knowing that there's something I can do with my camera to help."
Gerlach is holding 5-minute photo shoots from afar, taking portraits of families gathered on their balcony, stoop or in their window.
Gerlach said the portraits "capture this time of their lives and that we're all in this together."
The portraits are free.
"And in exchange, we ask for a good faith donation to the Hoboken Community Center, which is our local food pantry," Gerlach said. "They're really doing a huge part of keeping our community safe and fed.
Gerlach has so far conducted about 200 of these photo shoots.