In the first few months of the pandemic, as life ground to a halt, Emily Scarlett Romain found herself in a frustrating position. But instead of dwelling on the uncertainty, she saw an opportunity to rediscover creativity for its own sake. This project preserves, with snapshot-like authenticity, meet-ups with friends and family as restrictions were eased over summer 2020.

Through Emily’s lens, everyday moments that in our pre-pandemic lives we’d never have imagined would one day be illegal, albeit temporarily – hugging best mates, holding their babies for the first time, picnics, road trips and country walks – become liberating, tender reunions. None of us will take them for granted again.