For me, the thing that makes any portrait have merit depends upon whether or not the viewer feels as if he or she is looking at an honest moment captured on film. I have always felt that if I have a sincere connection with my subject, then the odds are greater that I will be able to get that across to an objective viewer when they see the photograph.

Connecting with people is what my photography is all about, and to a great extent, it’s why I prefer nude portraiture. My subjects have the confidence to bare all, to lay their cards face up on the table and allow others the opportunity to see them for who they really are. They also have a trust in me to represent them in a way that coincides with their intent.

This series is all about who these people are. Everything on the set is a valuable memento or heirloom that belongs to the subject. These are the things that cherished memories are inseparably connected to, and the objects on display represent loved ones, travel to far-away places, family ties, lost love, best friends, and newfound romance.

Facing away from the camera, these women invite us to piece together this intimate and revealing puzzle that represents not only their core identity, but also what shaped them into the people they are today.