Talking to Strangers.

How I'm connecting curiosity and creativity.

Jun 08, 2025

I love meeting strangers, hearing their stories and sitting with the unexpected magic that often follows. But as much as I’m drawn to others, I often find myself rushing past them, offering only a smile.

The tension I feel in those moments has quietly grown into a creative nudge to do something different. Something braver.

Talking to Strangers is that something (and the new name of this space). Through street portraits and conversations with strangers, I’m exploring what it means to lean into my curiosity and really see the people around me.

My hope in sharing these moments is to show the beauty of our shared humanity and the way it continues to connect us in an increasingly disconnected world.

Thanks for being here. I’m excited to share what (and who) I find.

The day I took this photo was Nyree’s first back at work after two long weeks in and out of the hospital. The pain she’d experienced and the uncertainty she was still dealing with were heavy, but something surprising had come out of it.

“My time in the hospital gave me space,” she said. “To really think about what happiness means to me.” The weight of the past weeks were still visible, but for a moment there seemed to be a kind of peace.

Sometimes, the pauses we’re forced to take make room for questions we didn’t know we needed to ask.

Pete had an undeniable vibe as he strut down the street shirtless carrying a beat-up 79¢ Polar Pop like it was a trophy from a long day well spent. When I asked him if I could take a photo, he immediately put down his cup and struck a pose like he’d been waiting for someone to ask.

I only got a few shots off before he was back on the move but in that brief moment, Pete left an impression. Some people move through the world without shrinking, and that’s its own kind of power.

During our conversation, Royalty opened up regarding his struggles running a small business. The kind of struggle that keeps you up at night. But the way he spoke made it clear he wasn’t going anywhere. He was rooted in purpose and patience.

As I walked away, I found myself thinking about the way he carried it all. How, even in the middle of struggle, his smile revealed a kind of quiet generosity.

I didn’t capture one of those grins during our quick shoot, but what I did catch was just as powerful – a moment of steady resolve, right there in front of his shop.

Dressed like his father, Aaron blessed a group of friends and family with poems and stories revealing how he found himself after 17 years of creative silence.

How he’d transformed from a Tennessee boy bathed in southern ideologies into an artist who used words to dismantle his own privilege on stage.

Aaron is a friend but on the night of this portrait, I learned it is best to remain curious with those you love – their genius might be what sparks your own.

Behind the Lens:

The words “Don’t hesitate…” flew from my fingers into my notebook.

The first stranger I wanted to photograph for this project had just walked out of the coffee shop without me ever saying a word.

A flood of doubt had rushed in during the brief moment between idea an action: What if she thinks I’m weird? How do I start the conversation?

Even if she’d still been there, the moment had passed. Fear had won.

Later that day, I walked downtown with the phrase “Don’t hesitate.” tattooed to my thoughts. Five minutes into my stroll I saw Pete.

This time, there was no pause.

Taking my first street portrait was a revelation – one that made me certain I wanted to shift my creative focus here. Like Aaron’s first open mic, my small moment of bravery helped me reclaim a bit of myself.