Don’t Blink or You Might Miss It: How a Local Photo Project Brought Spring City Together

Hi, I’m Brittany. I’m a local photographer drawn to documenting human experience — the quiet, ordinary moments that reveal who we are, through a journalistic lens.

When I moved back to the area a couple of years ago, I found myself in a familiar creative fog. Many creatives know that feeling: wanting to make something meaningful but struggling to find the spark that once came so naturally. My work has often centered on heavier stories, pieces meant to raise awareness and offer solutions, and somewhere along the way I forgot what it felt like to create from curiosity rather than urgency.

When Adam Alberico, mayor of Spring City, reached out to me about creating art in an empty window space along Main Street to add to the growing revitalization this small Schuylkill River town is humbly realizing, my knee‑jerk reaction was, “Painting isn’t my medium. I’m not sure I’m the right fit, but I can reach out to other creatives in the area who may make this vision happen.” A few seconds passed, and I resumed with, “...unless I do a photo series of the community.”

Adam and I began to spitfire ideas, and the concept of highlighting local businesses came to light. Not knowing the angle at the start, I began with a loose idea, and after the first day of production, the story easily presented itself.

I think “community” has risen to become a bit of a buzzword these days, and embarking on this project helped me see it in action. But what does it really mean? How can we believe in community and create it for those around us while also engaging in its benefits? My time spent in Spring City, interacting with business owners, seeing how they engage with patrons and passersby, has shown the embodiment of these principles. Through the polarization of society that has seemed to become even more pervasive, I believe the meaning of community has only proven its importance more.

At the end of the day, it’s our neighbors who donate to a GoFundMe to support a local family who has fallen on hard times; it’s the community participating in a car wash raising funds for a local sports team; and it’s the safe spaces we go to gather with friends after a long week of work, where the staff knows us by name and is genuinely curious about how our kids are doing with their college search.

"Small Town, Familiar Faces" is a photo essay born from my time in this town. This project grounded me again in engaging thoughtfully with my subjects and learning not only about what they provide, but also about who they are.

Sitting on the front bench of Neighbors Barbershop, talking with owner Justin Kyle about the importance of men’s mental health, he broke conversation only to make sure each passerby was acknowledged with a warm, familiar “Hey man, how are you doing? How’s your son?”

Behind Punch Buggy Brewing Company, I cracked jokes with Brian at the Deezy’s Famous Cheesesteaks food truck — a charismatic, contagious energy that made it feel like I had known him my whole life as he chopped a Philly style steak that had me break my 15-year streak of not eating meat — and honestly, it was worth every single bite.

And then there is the quiet hum of love inside Wild Blooms Florist, where Jennifer arranges flowers while her young children laugh and play with their toys. She is, quite literally, the example of a woman who manages a village while maintaining her own with strength and grace.

As a woman, can we take a moment to pay homage to the women in this town who balance their lives while leading businesses rooted in passion? Whether it’s Bridget, a multifaceted entrepreneur creating a haven for other creatives at Chaos along Riverside Drive, or Mama and her family lovingly cooking authentic mofongo for their regulars at the Latin Corner, these women embody resilience and heart.

These accounts are only a small glimpse of the embrace these Spring City business owners offered. I encourage each reader to take a stroll through this growing town and experience all it has to offer.

As opening night of "Small Town, Familiar Faces" approached, Mayor Adam did his part by engaging the community to come out and see the event both in person and on social media. Beyond helping me install the prints, he also checked in with each person passing by — inviting them to attend and discussing the plans he has for the town. His dedication to leading this town toward humble development, guided by the asks of community members, is reflected in the spirit you can immediately feel as you cross the bridge.

This town is evolving, and it’s not to say it hasn’t always had spirit, but the direction now feels more rooted and intentional. Growing up in Royersford, it’s refreshing to see the direction these small towns are moving in. And as Blaine from Misfit Hair Studio said so perfectly, “...I can see hope and change for Spring City. It has charm and a lot of character with its blue-collar touch. I like learning about the history of the town from people who have grown up here, and it’s so small that if you blink, you might just miss something really special.”

I plan to continue this project in other small towns, but growing the scope a bit and remaining flexible as the stories of familiar faces unveil themselves. You can visit the series in print at 131 North Main Street in Spring City, and you can see it digitally here.

A list of the local businesses that participated in this series can also be found below:

George's Music 99 North Main Street

The Gem Music Hall 66 North Main Street

Wild Blooms Florals 75 North Main Street

Neighbors Barbershop 105 North Main Street

L&W Group Printing 97 North Main Street

The Latin Corner 13 Riverside Drive

Punch Buggy Brewing Company and Deezy’s Famous Cheesesteaks 135 North Main Street

Tuned Up Brewery 77 North Main Street

Chaos Piercing and Chaos Tattoo 3 and 4 Riverside Drive

Misfit Hair Studio 51 East Bridge Street

Alisan Road Mercantile 89 North Main Street