Laura Stotts is a photographer, storyteller, and preservationist, and the creator of Diary of Abandonment, a visual journal of forgotten Americana. For more than a decade, she has traveled backroads and small towns documenting historic homes, cemeteries, and overlooked places, pairing her photography with the human stories that connect people to their past.

What began as photographing old structures has grown into a broader body of work centered on preservation, historical research, and storytelling. Her work extends beyond the lens into cemetery documentation, headstone cleaning, and volunteer efforts honoring veterans and their histories. She also participates in living history experiences, stepping into the environments connected to the places she documents.

Through years of genealogical research and time spent with property owners, descendants, and veterans, Laura has developed a deeper understanding of how family history shapes identity and the way people move forward. That perspective continues to guide both her work and the stories she chooses to share.

At its core, her work is about remembering. Not just the structures left behind, but the lives connected to them, and the importance of preserving those stories before they’re lost to time.