On New Year’s Day 2017, Faith Smith in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, sent a spontaneous selfie to her best friend Suzy Greenwood in South Devon, United Kingdom, accompanied by a message promising daily photos to maintain their connection despite the distance. Nearly a decade later, the two women—both now 40—have upheld this commitment without interruption, exchanging more than 3,500 selfies that chronicle their lives across an 11,000-mile divide.
Their unique daily ritual has documented a wide spectrum of experiences, including marriage, parenthood, grief, career changes, and the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting ordinary and extraordinary moments alike. The sustained exchange of unfiltered images has provided a constant and intimate connection in an age when digital communication is often criticized for fostering superficial interactions.
Smith and Greenwood first met as teenagers and developed a close friendship marked by shared adventures, such as a month-long trip to Zambia at age 16 and more than 20 holidays abroad. When Smith and her partner Rich relocated to Auckland in 2016 for what was initially intended to be a two-year adventure, Greenwood described feeling both excited for her friend and deeply saddened by the impending separation.
The couple’s move coincided with key moments in Smith’s life, including her 30th birthday and the decision to postpone starting a family amid political uncertainty following Brexit. Smith and Rich traveled extensively throughout New Zealand and the Pacific, became engaged in Wanaka, and returned briefly to the UK to marry, with Greenwood serving as maid of honor.
Family life soon followed. Smith revealed that her first pregnancy announcement was shared first with Greenwood, underscoring the closeness maintained despite geographical distance. Now settled in New Zealand with two children, Billy and Lexi, the couple appreciate the outdoor lifestyle their environment offers, from beaches and camping to skiing in winter.
Professionally, both Smith and her husband have found success in New Zealand’s smaller market, enabling rapid career advances. However, Smith acknowledged the challenges of raising a family far from extended relatives and lifelong friends. “Parenting without family support has been hard, although we’ve never known anything different,” she said. The continuity of her friendship with Greenwood provides important emotional support amid those challenges.
Early in their daily photo exchange, the friends agreed to forgo filters and editing, aiming to share authentic snapshots of their lives rather than curated images. Greenwood explained that the intent was to capture and share their real, unvarnished days, from changing seasons to personal milestones and everyday struggles like launching a new business.
Their decade-long commitment highlights a creative and enduring approach to sustaining meaningful relationships across great distances in the digital era.