For most of my life, I’ve wanted to be in front of the camera. Despite eventually picking up the other side of the lens (a decision I wouldn’t make any differently if I could), a core part of my interest in the arts began in 6th grade when I saw one of my first plays at my middle school. It was entirely my fault that I never got involved– I never had the confidence or courage to do so– and I eventually became a recorder instead of a performer in high school. Still, to this day, I wonder what could have been if I had chosen a different avenue of art. As a result, and almost like a secret, I still often want to take my shot at performing.

Over my first semester as an undergraduate photography student at NYU, I transformed my love for sports photography into an exploration of portraiture photography. This endeavor has made me fall in love with portrait photography, and I’m confident I want to pursue it as I continue my artistic practice. I executed shoots as often as I could, and I ended the semester with a body of work I am very proud of. But an issue arose with the introduction of the final project: I couldn’t quite decide what to do for it. Whether it was the time not being right, not being confident in it, or the idea just not being me, I bounced between a handful of concepts for the majority of the semester, never able to decide on one. It wasn’t until I took a step back to look at the work I had consistently made all semester that I realized I had already completed my project.

To me, “Portraits of the People I’ve Met” is more than a series of disconnected character photos. It’s a projection of what I wish I had the confidence to experience. It sounds simple, but every single photo was driven by the desire to uplift and inspire my subjects, most of whom weren’t used to being photographed. They’re driven by me wanting to give others the courage everyone deserves to have. The project is tied together by a self-portrait of myself, inspired by the people who had the fearlessness to be in front of the camera.