With a camera in her hand as she can remember, Carmen Polanco has been documenting her life. Her grandpa gave her her very first camera, which was a simple automated point-and-shoot model. Her family was overjoyed and eager to pose for her; they struck stances that made the images seem genuine, they happily posed for birthday shots, and they struck every other possible pose! Polanco's encouragement from her family was essential in her decision to pursue photography.