honoring the enduring threads that bind generations together

Jessica Kukreti life's work holds a duality; she divides her time as the principal photographer at Ancestorie, and as an anthropologist studying visual imagery and metaphor in a world renowned consultancy founded at Harvard. Both of these paths are driven by a profound need to understand people and to capture their essence and meaning. She approaches her craft with depth and purpose; rooted in the perseverance and resilience learned from her upbringing in a small community in rural Pennsylvania, Jessica finds inspiration in life’s quiet, intimate moments. 
Her dedication to preserving legacy is deeply personal. In response to being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, she returned from retirement as a photographer, driven by the notion that legacy holds profound significance and ensures our essence can endure.
Now living in Montclair, New Jersey, with her husband and two young children, Jessica is deeply invested in her community. As a volunteer and board member, she is passionate about fostering connections and supporting families. Her work through Ancestorie reflects this commitment by creating artifacts rich with history, alive with memory, and cherished for generations.

We believe in honoring the unseen bonds that connect generations and individuals, transforming them into art that resonates with depth and permanence.

We believe each image is a deliberate thread in the fabric of legacy, echoing the enduring beauty of human connection, whether shared or singular.

We believe in crafting portraits that embody the permanence of what lasts, preserving moments of intimacy and meaning for every person and every connection.

We believe that photographs are intimate artifacts, bearing witness to the profound ties and unique stories that define and sustain a family or an individual across lifetimes.

In portraits that embody the essence of what lasts to quietly preserve the
moments that define a family.

THE PHILOSOPHY