Artist Statement

This is Me! is a colorful editorial portrait series that aims to highlight the everyday individual in an extraordinary way while also serving as a mirror for those that may see themselves in someone else. Color, objects, symbols, and environment are used to define the individual but these different elements can also serve to create a bridge between the photo’s subject and their audience. All of the different pieces that make you who you are also the things that can connect you to someone else. All together, these images celebrate the everyday individual and their story but also leave the door open for something more. That something more is the larger connection. 

Growing up, making connections with other people was something that I struggled with. I was the stereotypical shy child and was always more comfortable keeping to myself. While other children were jumping head first into a variety of social interactions, I was always holding back. My parents of course saw this and recognized the opportunities that I was missing out on. They saw that my shell was preventing me from standing out and truly being seen. To help, they did their best to push me out of my comfort zone. It was a slow evolution that lasted all of my childhood but eventually I made it to the other side. I began seeing the positive outcomes of viewing others as open books.

I feel that this project is a continuation and reflection of this ongoing journey. I want to work with other people to continue to push myself outside of my own box. I want to make connections with my subjects so that I can use my photography and editing to tell their stories. I want these stories to eventually make their way to a viewer that looks at one of the portraits and says, “hey, this is me!’ after seeing something in that featured individual that is a reflection of who they are. In a world that is slowly being disconnected by technology, politics, borders, etc. I think it is more important than ever to share each other's stories in an effort to find common ground and to be seen. Being the “shy kid" will only get you so far.

The main intention of this project is not to simply represent the individual but instead to show them in an extraordinary way. As I know all too well, it can be very easy to blend in with a crowd and not truly be seen. Like my parents did once upon a time, I want to help my subjects be seen by creating images that will stand out through the use of dramatic lighting, vibrant color, and interesting juxtapositions. I want this project to push their story forward!