What is your favorite way to show love to someone? This is the question that I set out to ask strangers around California. I interviewed many about this topic, hoping to get a window into their soul, inspire human connection, and to get people to think outside of themselves. They described familial, romantic, and friendly love. After interviewing them, I captured their portrait to memorialize the moment.
The portraits are simple, but the moments I shared with each of these individuals were incredibly meaningful. I ended up discussing faith, love languages, and the purpose of life with many. One group said to me, “thank you for asking us this question. It is great to reflect on.”
I believe that the world is a better place when we focus less on ourselves and more on sharing love with others. It is easy to get caught up in the negativity of life; from the news, to social media, or even from complaining about a long work day. It is never ending. Yet, there must be a deeper meaning to life.
I posit that loving others is one of the most beautiful ways to bring meaning and purpose to life. Our simple existences become much richer if we live in whole relationships with those around us. We all desire to be seen, valued, cared for, and known. Some describe love as selfless loyalty, compassion, gratitude, or maybe dying to self. Conceptually defining love can be difficult, but I believe that it is far more important to define how one shows love in action.
This project explored what it means to practically show love. You will find that the answers varied greatly - from messing around, prayer, hugs, or even pouring orange juice in the morning. Despite the variety, they all have the common theme: someone stepped outside of themselves to care for another and make sure they feel known. They died to themselves and put someone else first. This is love.
I hope that you enjoy this short piece and reflect on the connections you make. I encourage you to step outside of yourself and answer the question of how you show love to others - then go out and show love.
Sofia (left) and Angel (right)
Sofia: I mean I would say just doing stuff that I know that they like without asking for it.
Angel: Messing around more, trying to lighten up the mood, have fun, make memories.
Gwynn
Gwynn: I don’t know; there’s a lot of ways. A favorite way? I don’t know… To offer unconditional kindness, listen, and for people who are comfortable, giving a hug, you know. Just affection.
Shawn
Shawn: Maybe doing things that I know they love and showing support in whatever way I can through, you know, a variety of ways. Through email, call, you know, sending a note or getting together to take a walk. Just showing love and support, especially when they’re going through a tough time. Prayer too because I have a personal faith. Prayer is a big part of my life.
Tiffany (left) and Kate (right)
Tiffany: I think for me it’s, like, quality time with them. I feel I love doing random hang outs or like randomly seeing them and I feel like that’s how I express love because I enjoy hanging out with people.
Kate: For me, affection is hard. So when I do show affection, that really shows that I do love them. So I’ll like text them daily or give I’ll them a hug. But also quality time is good for me too. I just like spending time with that person.
Neal (left) and Anna (right)
Anna: Hugs!
Neal: Hugs are good. Words of affirmation. Telling somebody that you like them or love them.
Anna: Helping people!
Left to right: Piper, Evan, Parker, and Avery
Parker and Avery: Giving hugs!
Meredith: Hugs? Okay, you say hugs too? Okay, what are your answers?
Piper: Wrestling!
Meredith: Wrestling! Okay, nice. What’s yours?
Evan: I think hugs are probably my answer as well.
Left to Right: Bella, Warren, and Maddy
Maddy: My favorite way to show love is probably through words of affirmation.
Warren: Mine is to pray for others.
Bella: My favorite way of showing love is offering genuine care and listening to whatever the person is saying.
Mika (left) and Chad (right)
Mika: Probably like, gifts and spending my time with them.
Chad: I think it’s like giving them complete time, attention, and focus.
Cynthia (left) and Ria (right)
Ria: At lunch I pour his orange juice. I set his cereal bowl and berries... I call him sweetie and he calls me sunshine. We’ve been married fifty years.
Cynthia: I don’t know. You just automatically do things for each other. You don’t think about it.
Maddie
Maddie: My favorite way is doing something that helps them. Like, acts of service.
Wynter
Wynter: My favorite way of showing love is giving a heartfelt compliment that isn’t something that someone hears everyday.
Paul
Paul: Having a very close and personal conversation where I share something that I feel strongly and that it’s felt, you know, more than just the words are felt between two people.
Chantal
Chantal: You know, I think I’m really good using words. I like saying what I think and I believe there’s a lot of power in how we use our words.
2025
