An Ohio Photographer Spent 15 Years With One Household. She Says Her Mission By no means Ended

This dialog initially aired on the March 29, 2026 episode of Inside Appalachia. 

Late final 12 months, The New York Times printed a visitor essay titled, “An Act of Witness in Appalachia.” It describes photographer Maddie McGarvey’s relationship with Paige Casto and her household. McGarvey was a sophomore finding out photojournalism at Ohio University 15 years in the past when she determined to doc grandparents elevating their grandchildren. A social employee in Athens, Ohio related her with the Casto household, and he or she’s been photographing them ever since. 

Now, McGarvey is a contract photographer for The New York Times protecting the Rust Belt and Appalachia.

Inside Appalachia Associate Producer Abby Neff spoke with McGarvey about her relationship with Paige Casto and the way it’s modified since their first assembly. 

The transcript under has been flippantly edited for readability. 

Neff: I’m a photograph proper now of Paige wanting down at swallowtail butterflies. The caption reads, “Paige chasing butterflies outside her grandmother’s home.” I simply wished to ask the context behind this photograph and form of what introduced it to life for you, and why it’s featured on this story.

McGarvey: So, this photograph is definitely most likely the primary or second time I ever met Paige. She was most likely three or 4 years outdated right here and actually simply so stuffed with surprise. They lived in a holler. No cellphone service, however with loads of pure magnificence round them. There’d be little creeks and hills with flowers. We’d go and decide flowers and stroll round barefoot. And at this second, Paige simply form of leaned over and checked out a bunch of butterflies that have been simply round — I don’t even know what they have been swarming round. But she was simply, she … had simply such childlike surprise. And she was, like, three or 4 years outdated … it’s form of consultant of the beginning of our relationship collectively and me form of capturing her and the way she was viewing the world all through these totally different ages.

Neff: Can you inform me about your preliminary assembly with Paige and her household?  

McGarvey: Yeah. So, I initially began this mission once I was a sophomore at Ohio University, and I seen that there was an rising development of grandparents elevating their grandchildren. This was round 2009, so loads of these households have been affected by the opioid disaster. There was simply loads of instability, psychological sickness, you already know, all of these sorts of points occurring. And I met with a social employee who placed on a chunk of paper, “Lorrie Casto, I’m raising my three grandkids” and a telephone quantity. And I keep in mind being 19 years outdated and not likely understanding what I used to be doing in any regard, however being very, very nervous to make this telephone name. But Lorrie stated, you already know, “Come on over. Sure, you can document our lives.” And it simply type of began this type of stunning relationship that lasts the following 15 years. So once I first went over to the trailer that they lived in, I simply I seen these three blonde children simply operating all through the yard, and, you already know, Paige was three or 4 then, and simply immediately interested by me, and I used to be interested by her, and that form of was the beginning of our relationship.

Neff: The anecdotes you share in regards to the Castos in The New York Times story are weak and uncooked. On the evening Paige’s brothers are despatched to foster care, she calls you. What was that second like in your relationship with Paige?

McGarvey: Yeah, so I suppose since I’ve recognized Paige since she was three years outdated, and this occurred final 12 months when she was practically 18, it did simply — you already know, it looks like I’ve recognized them my whole life. It wasn’t unusual in any respect that she reached out to me, and I’m glad that I could possibly be an individual steady in her life to take action. But you already know, it was — it’s unhappy to see her struggling a lot and to see her household separated. It’s not essentially anybody’s fault. It’s so many elements that go into these children ending up in foster care, however it doesn’t make it any simpler for a sister who’s shedding her child brothers that she’s had round her whole life. So yeah, it’s actually robust, and it’s onerous to observe that, however it’s additionally been form of inspiring to see how she navigates this as she’s rising up and changing into a younger a younger grownup.

Neff: How did this mission problem the “stranger with a camera” trope that appears to endure in Appalachia?

McGarvey: That’s a extremely good query. I feel what makes you not a “stranger with a camera” is spending loads of time with these folks, and I feel it’s actually essential that individuals don’t simply parachute into areas like Appalachia or anyplace and anticipate to grasp your complete sophisticated historical past of a spot with out spending effort and time. And I feel that’s essential, and I take that significantly. And that’s why, I feel, I simply dedicated to doing this mission for occurring 15 years. And I’ve no plans to cease so long as they’ll have me. But you already know, I feel you at all times begin as a stranger, and hopefully, by these connections and belief and time, it builds into one thing much more substantial and delightful.

Neff: How are Paige and her siblings doing now? 

McGarvey: They’re doing okay. You know, Paige goes to be married within the spring. She moved to a special a part of Ohio, residing together with her fiancé. He bought a job at a manufacturing facility. You know, she’s figuring issues out. I feel she’s keen to start out her family, regardless that she’s fairly younger. I feel she simply desperately needs to form of give the like to a toddler that perhaps she didn’t at all times really feel when she was rising up. And I’ll be there to proceed documenting her so long as she’ll have me. I simply — I’m very grateful for the belief and for a household, you already know, giving this stranger an opportunity and form of creating into one thing much more stunning that I by no means would have recognized would have occurred after simply being a 19-year-old at OU making a telephone name all these years in the past. It’s form of a testomony to the ability of images and simply the form of relationships it could enable you discover on this world, simply by curiosity and attempt to perceive your neighbors higher.

Neff: A whole lot of your work in The New York Times and different freelance tasks you’ve completed centered primarily on the Rust Belt in Appalachia. What would you like folks to remove from the photographs that you just share and also you shoot, particularly in a area that has loads of media misrepresentation? 

McGarvey: Yeah. I imply I feel Ohio, the Rust Belt, Appalachia — these are all locations that individuals have probably preconceived notions [about] however actually maintain loads of nuance. And I’m actually fortunate to have the ability to journey this complete area and meet folks from all walks of life, all backgrounds, totally different opinions, totally different jobs, simply each form of stroll of life to attempt to present what’s taking place right here with some nuance … I feel loads of instances once I’m capturing for nationwide publications, they assume I’m coming in from New York or [Washington] D.C. and I feel telling them, “No, I live here in Ohio, and I know these issues, and I care about this place, and I’m not trying to just perpetuate stereotypes. And I’m looking for the nuance and I’m looking for the layers in this place.” I feel that goes a good distance with belief. And I do really feel passionately about protecting your personal yard and the issues which might be making up your neighborhood and the problems that your neighbors care about. I simply — that’s one thing that basically issues to me. So, I really feel fortunate that I get to reside right here in Ohio and be interested by one thing by myself and have the ability to discover it by images and hopefully share it with a bigger viewers and get them to grasp it on a special stage too.

Neff: Maddie, thanks a lot for talking with me in the present day. I actually respect it.

McGarvey: Thank you, Abby. I actually respect your curiosity.