Benji / At Home With

Benji is no stranger to my camera. We've shot together quite a few times, but never in his own home. This is part of an ongoing series that I have been working on with people in their own spaces. I love the added element of storytelling being in new environments has added to my portfolio. Because I had never seen his place before this shoot, I wasn't sure what to expect or prepare for. The challenge of shooting in an unfamiliar place was a welcome one. I liked the casualness and spontaneity of these shots, and I don't think that would have happened if I had been in the space before. As for Benji, I think we captured his personality wonderfully.

Ben / At Home With

I received an insta message from someone a long time ago asking me how I liked living in Springfield. This person was being relocated here for work but wanted another gay man's perception of the area. Fast forward a few months and I run into my new neighbor in the hall of our building and he introduces himself as Ben, the guy who had messaged me! He had no idea he had moved into the same building! It's a small world, but even smaller here in the midwest. We've become friends in real life and I finally got to see inside his loft. I loved all of his plants so much, we did a photoshoot there. This actually started a series of shoots that I've been doing of people in their own spaces and I love how they are turning out. I will be sharing the other shoots too and hope to continue the series. For now, here's Ben in his cool urban forest that he's created here in downtown.