When you think about the friends that most influence you in life, what do you think of? There’s something special in each one of our loved ones that we intertwine with their memory. In my series of photographs I wanted to convey these various personality traits of my friends in a warm and nostalgic manner. I wanted people to feel my sense of admiration and love for the people in my photographs. I also shot my first self-portrait to represent how the people we surround ourselves with shape who we are.

A childlike sense of humor, carefree and focused knowledge, unconditional will to help others, and a genial sense of letting go are the main themes of these photographs. The lower angles that I often had to get on the ground to shoot, give the pictures a more personal feel because you are down on the level with the subject. All of the shots are printed on 8x10 fiber paper because I see all of these people as equally influential in my life. I chose this series because I feel most passionate about my friends and I wanted a series that would speak to the heart, from the heart.