Photographer's Statement

My Name. My Life. Portraits of Homeless Residents

Photographer Maya Dreilinger sets up her ad hoc studio around the city and creates portraits of homeless and very low-income residents in an effort to 1) change the public perception of poor and homeless residents from one of negativity to one of strength and beauty; and 2) actively involve community residents in undoing myths and stereotypes placed upon them by the media and others.

She gives her subjects questionnaires to fill out, fielding similar questions from the American Express print advertisements.