Photographer and documentarian Joe Hunich has created a stunning collection of interviews that document men talking honestly and frankly about what it means to be a dad.
—
Joe Hunich is a dad. He’s a dad who loves talking to other men about what it means to be a dad. He loves hearing their stories. And because he wanted to start sharing those stories with other people, he started the I’m a Dad Project. The goal of I’m a Dad is to record and share the experiences of a diverse range of dads with the rest of the world. As a result, Joe has created a series of remarkable videos and photographs of men talking about their families and the ins and outs of being a father.
To quote the I’m a Dad website, “Obviously there’s some entertainment value [in these videos], but on a deeper level I think it might be that the stories help me realize I’m not alone. Even though our experiences may be completely different, I see that there are other guys trying their best to ‘be a good dad’ and follow their dreams at the same time.”
We asked Joe to give us some more background on the origins of the I’m a Dad Project. Here’s what he said:
Over the past year or so, I’ve developed a strong interest in photography. It started out with just taking pictures on my phone and eventually I got a DSLR camera and started to learn how to use that as well. When I asked photographer friends for advice on how to improve, they always said, “You just gotta go out and shoot.” I tried to go walk around and take pictures of stuff, but, the way my brain works, I really needed some context or a story to tell. One of the ideas that popped in my head was to tell stories about being a dad. That is pretty much who I am and what’s most important to me, so why not start there? I didn’t just want it to be about me, though. I wanted to document a broad perspective of fatherhood and honestly portray both the highs and lows that go along with the experience. The result was this project called I’m A Dad. I’ve been able to sit down and talk several dads and then edit the interviews up into a 3-5 minute stories that are coupled together with images of them interacting with their kids. It’s been a lot of fun and I think I’ve improved as a photographer, but, even more importantly, I think I’ve improved as a father. Each one of these interviews has helped me see something I could do better with my own kids, or something I’ve taken for granted that I should be more thankful for. I’m looking forward to continuing to develop I’m A Dad, and I hope the stories resonate similarly with others who listen to them as well.
Don’t like ads? Become a supporter and enjoy The Good Men Project ad free
Below are a f”ew examples of some of the superbly engaging videos that Joe has produced for his I’m a Dad Project. If you want to see more of Joe’s videos or learn more about I’m a Dad, click here:
♦◊♦
From I’m a Dad: If there is ever a guy who won’t take fatherhood for granted, it’s Galvin Milloy. After having multiple miscarriages, and struggling with thoughts that they might never have children, Galvin and his wife Angela finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy just a few months ago. In this interview, Galvin shares some of the struggles they endured and also the joy he has found in embracing this opportunity to be a dad.”
I’m A Dad – Galvin Milloy from Joe Hunich on Vimeo.
♦◊♦
“Lucky Barnard, owner and operator of Artful Dodger Tattoo & Comics, talks about the pros and cons of raising kids around a tattoo shop, and the challenge of working enough hours to provide for the family, yet still being present in their daily lives as well.”
I’m A Dad – Lucky Barnard from Joe Hunich on Vimeo.
♦◊♦
“Professional photographer, Isaiah Haynes, shares how having a daughter has changed him; and how he and his wife Latasha balance the responsibilities of parenthood and running a successful photography business”
I’m A Dad – Isaiah Haynes from Joe Hunich on Vimeo.
♦◊♦
Images and videos courtesy of Joe Hunich.