For over a decade, two longtime friends have maintained a close bond despite living nearly halfway around the world from each other. Suzy Greenwood in Devon, England, and Faith Smith in Auckland, New Zealand, have used daily selfies and technology to sustain their friendship through major life milestones, challenges, and the demands of busy careers.
The pair began their ongoing photo exchange about 10 years ago, capturing everyday moments and significant events alike. This ritual quickly became a vital source of connection and support, especially during difficult periods. Faith, who experienced a challenging early motherhood while isolated from family support, credits the daily communication with helping her persevere during those months. “I came very close to stopping,” she said of the practice, “but I’m so glad I didn’t.”
Balancing an 11- to 12-hour time difference makes long phone conversations or extended messaging impractical at times. Instead, the friends rely on brief, low-pressure exchanges—sending selfies after workouts or sharing glimpses of their daily routines through photos. This method allows them to maintain a consistent connection even on hectic or exhausting days without requiring extensive conversation.
This bond proved especially meaningful during recent hardships. Faith’s father passed away from Alzheimer’s disease earlier this year, and Covid-19 border closures prevented her from bringing her children to visit the UK. Throughout those challenges, the visual diary they have created helped keep their friendship resilient and close.
Despite the distance, Suzy and Faith prioritize meeting in person when possible. They have managed to spend time together each year except during the worst of the pandemic restrictions. In May last year, Suzy traveled to Madrid where Faith was attending a conference, allowing them to share work time and dinners uninterrupted by family responsibilities.
Their friendship, grounded in intimate daily insights and years of shared experiences, is a testament to how technology can enhance relationships rather than hinder them. “There’s so much about how technology is making us lonely,” Suzy said, “but if you use technology in the right way, it empowers us to stay connected.” She noted that maintaining close bonds across continents would have been far more difficult before platforms like WhatsApp existed.
Faith recently celebrated her 40th birthday and marked the occasion with a personal challenge: compiling a photo book from the thousands of images saved in their chats. The project underscores how their decade-long habit of exchanging selfies has created a unique visual record of their intertwined lives.
Neither woman has plans to end the daily tradition. “We’re both far too stubborn,” Faith said. “We’ve built two very different but completely ‘us’ lives on opposite sides of the world. The 10 years of selfies have accidentally brought us closer together.”
Suzy echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of their connection. “I can’t ever imagine not doing it. She’s the person I go to with everything, big or small. To not see her face every day would just be really sad.” Both intend to continue their daily ritual indefinitely, reaffirming the enduring power of friendship maintained across distance through modern technology.