In Front My Lens: Friends, Memories, and Shared Journeys

I recently watched an episode from The Art Assignment, a video series where the host interviews different artists about their creative practices and, in each episode, presents viewers with an art challenge inspired by the artist’s work.

In this particular episode, the featured artist reflected on friendship—specifically, the meaningful connections she had built over the years and how many of her friends were now scattered across the globe. This reflection sparked an ambitious project: she set out to travel worldwide to visit every single one of her Facebook friends and take formal portraits of them in their homes.

As part of the episode’s challenge, viewers were encouraged to take a formal portrait of a friend—an idea I’m now considering incorporating into my blogging challenge this month. But even before picking up my camera, the episode made me reflect on all the portraits I’ve taken of friends over the years.

For this post, I’m sharing ten portraits that capture treasured friendships across different chapters of my life. Each caption includes the year it was taken, starting with one from 2009 in South Africa and ending with the most recent, taken this year in Trinidad.

Portrait photography has always been something I love, and this episode was a reminder that I should push myself to do more of it this year. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be in front of my lens sometime soon. Until then, I hope you enjoy these photographs as much as I enjoyed taking them!

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  2009 Stellenbosch, South Africa. K, an amazing artist, was one of my first friends in South Africa

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  2015 Trinidad. H is a friend from High School. One of my younger sister's foundation friends.

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  2015 Tobago. P is one of my big Sisters! I was lucky to photograph her on her wedding day.

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  2015 Trinidad. VI may be the friend I have photographed the most! So many album covers!

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  2017 Down the Islands, Trinidad. I met my lovely friend B in University in NYC! Maybe 50 years ago

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  2018 London, England. S was one of my flat mates in Uni in London and the subject of my longest film

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  2020 CapeTown, South Africa. C, another talented artist, is another friend I made during my SA days

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  2021 Trinidad. If you know me, you know her. I met K in Primary School and she is part of the fam!

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  2021, Trinidad. J and I met almost 20 years ago and she may be my 2nd most photographed friend!

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  2025 Trinidad. My Talented T. Friends since highschool and deep in the foundation fam!