I’m a photographer from Harlem who believes that joy is a form of healing. My project, Hella Reasons to Smile, started during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the world felt heavy and uncertain. I began photographing people smiling through their masks and asking them, “What gives you a reason to smile?” What started as a simple question turned into a powerful reminder that happiness can survive even in isolation. Those portraits became A Reason to Smile, and later, Hella Reasons to Smile—a growing movement rooted in gratitude, connection, and presence.

My inspiration comes from my community. Harlem has always taught me that joy is resistance—that we can face struggle and still find light in each other. That spirit pushed me to keep creating, even when times were dark. I’ve since turned the project into a photo book, workshops, and exhibitions, taking Smile Therapy—my philosophy that smiling is emotional healing—on the road. From Paris Fashion Week to the Basketball Hall of Fame, I’ve met people from all walks of life who remind me that a smile is universal. It transcends language, status, and circumstance.

Through this work, I hope to solve a simple but profound problem: our growing disconnection from one another. In a world where negativity often dominates the spotlight, I want to shift the focus back to joy, to the energy that connects us. A smile doesn’t erase pain—it transforms it. It brings us back to ourselves and to each other.

What I get out of this movement is deeper than photography. Every time I see someone’s face light up, I’m reminded that we’re all capable of healing ourselves and those around us. Hella Reasons to Smile is my way of sharing that energy with the world—a reminder that even when life feels uncertain, there are always hella reasons to smile.