Gillian Laub’s Take on the Allure of Photography

In our latest First Take series, TIME spoke to award-winning photographer Gillian Laub. Laub, who is known for her compelling photos of family narratives – more specifically her own family in Westchester, New York.

Laub’s ability to balance distance and intimacy on a story closer to home bears witness to the function of the photograph as a key exploring wealth, vanity, childhood, fragility, aging. “The best photographs haunt and keep you up at night,” she says. “It tells you so much and yet, there’s so much more you want to know.”

What makes a great photograph? Watch this video to hear more from Laub.

Gillian Laub is a photographer and filmmaker based in New York.

First Take is an ongoing video series curated by TIME’s photography editors. See the previous videos here.