Alturi Family: Post Palisades Fire
Returning to What Remains
She walked slowly, head down, searching for remnants of what was once home. Slumped shoulders, eyes scanning the emptiness, trying to make sense of what remained. Just last month, the Palisades Fire reshaped Josephine’s world in ways that words alone could never hold.
This wasn’t just any home—it was also a place I felt comfortable in. I’ve photographed Josephine’s family here for years, documenting the love and life within these walls. I’ve co-hosted an event in this space, celebrated her children’s birthdays with my own kids as guests, and even jumped into their pool, camera in hand, to capture underwater memories. Their home was more than four walls and a roof; it was a living, breathing space of connection, warmth, and generosity. The kind of home where people didn’t just visit—they belonged.
But fire does not discriminate. It sweeps through, claiming everything in it’s path. And yet, what it cannot take is the love, the community, the spirit of a family that remains intact even when the walls are gone.
Josephine seeing her neighborhood for the first time after the Palisades fire.
The town center in the Pacific Palisades.
When Josephine returned for the first time, she invited me to witness, to photograph, to hold space for the quiet weight of it all. The absence. The memories. The surrender. It was a moment of grief, of resilience, of searching for what still stood amid the ashes. There were no posed portraits, no orchestrated moments—only raw, honest emotion. A mother standing in the ruins of a home that once held so much life, looking for the pieces that fire could not steal.
Documenting loss, resilience and love for a home and space they put so much effort into building their family.
The only intact Christmas village house found in the ashes—a cherished piece of a collection Josephine began when her eldest son was a baby. Now 18, he grew up with these holiday traditions, making this discovery all the more meaningful
A Conversation on Loss and Resilience
Josephine and I recently sat down for an incredibly heartfelt episode of her podcast, Responding to Life, to share our personal experiences in the aftermath of the January 7, 2025, Palisades Fire. As two moms navigating this tragedy, we talked about guiding our children through fear and uncertainty while striving to create stability in an unrecognizable reality. We explored resilience in the face of unexpected loss, the overwhelming kindness of our community, and the deep emotional journey of finding light in the darkest of moments.
Through it all, this conversation is a tribute to the power of community, the goodness of humanity, and the hope that emerges when we balance motherhood, loss, and the unwavering strength of the human spirit.
A heart imprinted on a metal piece from her youngest twins’ jewelry box, found in the rubble.
Double-exposure to represent a moment of reflection in the aftermath of losing her home.
The Power of Community and Moving Forward
Now more than ever, it’s important to come together and give back to the communities impacted by the fires. Whether it’s supporting families who have lost their homes, donating to local organizations, or simply offering kindness to those rebuilding their lives, every action counts.
A text from Josephine on the importance of family photo shoots.
Follow Josephine on IG @josephineratluri and what she is doing at Mindful Wellbeing Pathways.
If you’re looking to donate to relief efforts, Josephine would love for you to support any or all of these organizations : Baby2Baby, LAFD, and Wildfire Relief Fund.
Josephine noticed this piece of wood charred black on the outside, but still preserved with warm tones on the inside.
Josephine found these clovers of hope, sprouted through the aftermath.
Shattered remains of bits from Josephine’s beloved Christmas village that she’s collected for nearly two decades.
A glass wall that once surrounded the pool, now shattered.
Below you’ll see a sample of, “THEN and NOW”.
Let’s continue to uplift one another and celebrate the resilience of families who remind us of what truly matters during this devastating time for so many in our Los Angeles community. It’s a long road ahead.
With love,
Jess
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Special thanks to Krysta Masciale for the video footage!
A sample can be viewed on this Instagram reel.