History of Hearts Apart.

Hearts Apart was founded in 2010 in Wilmington, North Carolina, by entrepreneur Brett Martin and acclaimed photographer Brownie Harris. Created to help military families stay emotionally connected during deployment, the organization provides professional family portraits that are printed on durable, pocket-sized cards service members can carry wherever they serve.

Brownie Harris was instrumental in shaping and growing the organization. In addition to donating his photography services, he built a nationwide network of more than 450 volunteer photographers, helping Hearts Apart expand from a local initiative into a national nonprofit serving military families across the country.

Brownie Harris is one of America’s most respected photographers, with a career spanning more than five decades. His work includes portraits of cultural icons, political figures, corporate leaders, military personnel, and everyday Americans. His portfolio includes notable figures such as John F. Kennedy Jr., Truman Capote, Miles Davis, and Mikhail Baryshnikov — alongside factory workers, corporate leaders, and Hollywood legends. In 2025, Harris released The Brownie Harris Photography Retrospective: 1970–2020 from LCIX Editions.

Today, Hearts Apart continues its founding mission — providing meaningful portraits that help military families remain connected during times of separation.