Faces of Denver - Kick-off

Credit where credit is due: A friend of mine, Matthew, suggested I hop on my scooter, head downtown, and simply start photographing people. “Just ask,” he said. And just like that, a new personal journey began: Faces of Denver.

The mission is simple—get out of the studio, explore the city, meet interesting people, and capture portraits on the fly. It’s a way to grow as an artist, find beautiful light and backdrops, and connect with the community. Hopefully, a few of these spontaneous encounters will lead to future shoots… maybe even friendships.

Armed with my camera and a loose plan, I headed toward Union Station. I struck out with the first person I approached (they brushed me off in a hurry), but I kept going. I was scanning for someone who looked like they belonged in front of a lens.

Then, coming up 16th Street, I saw someone on a longboard wearing a colorful tank that reminded me of home. I did a fast U-turn and caught him at the light.

I explained the project and asked if I could take his photo. His response? “You seem like a decent guy. So, sure.”
That’s how I met Sky.

We found a perfect little pocket of light just 10 yards away. With just a bit of direction, Sky instantly dropped into a natural pose. Four quick shots later, I had one of my favorite sets of the day.

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With Sky’s portrait in the bag, I could’ve called it a win. But I decided to keep going.

Just a few blocks over, I almost passed up Larimer Square—until I noticed a flash of green. I turned around and saw a group of people dressed like they were heading to a wedding or formal event. It turns out they were in town for a property management convention, and they had a few minutes to spare.

I asked if anyone would be up for a quick portrait session. To my surprise, several said yes on the spot. We grabbed a shaded doorway just steps away and made it work—about 5x5 feet of space and a whole lot of good energy.

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In about 10 minutes, we created something that felt meaningful. They were as excited about the portraits as I was—and all it took was saying hello and having my camera ready.

After getting these photos, I felt like my first outing was a real success. This was just Day One of Faces of Denver—and already, I’ve met people I never would have spoken to and found stories I never would’ve known. I’m excited to see who I run into next.

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