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'The Portrait Project' shoots people's true emotions

"I am intrigued by how people express emotion and the way they look while doing so." — photographer Aharon Jinjihashvili

Andrea Bang - The Portrait Project - Aharon Jinjihashvili
Actress Andrea Bang as photographed for the The Portrait Project by Aharon Jinjihashvili.

As an actor, filmmaker and director I wondered if I could use my skills to capture authentic emotion within a single frame. I came up with this project to see if I could direct models into expressing true emotion on camera.

I provoked feeling within participants by asking each model a series of personal questions regarding each specific emotion they wished to express. Twenty-four participants were photographed without the use of hair and makeup. No posing or pretending, only genuine emotion.

This is the result.


Alexis Chin, 23, actor

"I've had huge dreams but no one ever believed I could achieve them. Nothing motivates me more than proving people wrong. But I am human. And it is difficult to try to remain strong in a world full of risk and rejection. "

Alexis Chin. 23 years old. Actor - Aharon Jinjihashvili


Bradley Jonathan Fung, 18, actor

"That split-second feeling of belonging is what drives me to keep acting; I’m in constant search of that feeling. And until I can catch it and hold on to it I don’t think I can ever stop."

Bradley Jonathan Fung, 18, Actor - aharon jinjihashvili


Brian Tam, 17, student

"No matter how many different faces you see of me, all of them will point you back to the real me."

Brian Tam 17 student - Aharon Jinjihashvili


Cleo Yeh, actress, model

"I am reminding people of their humanity using one ugly crying face at a time"

Cleo Yeh - Aharon Jinjihashvili


Colton Scott Barnert, 15, student actor

“I love exploring and trying new things.”

Colton Scott Barnert, 15, High School Student Actor - Aharon Jinjihashvili


Daniel Yang, 16, actor

"I am the awkward kid that walks down a long road."

Daniel Yang 16 actor & student - Aharon Jinjihashvili


Donovan Kaige Tejani, 16, student

"Sometimes I look retrospectively and realize that I'm just watching life go by and I'm trying to figure out if that's normal."

Donovan Kaige Tejani student 16 - Aharon Jinjihashvili


Gianni Carabelea, 40, croupier

“I left that fearful boy from a Romanian small village behind. Small village boy, big heart, big dreams!"

Gianni Carabelea 40 Croupier - Aharon Jinjihashvili


Jaren Moore, actor

Jaren Moore  - Aharon Jinjihashvili


Jefferneil Reyes actor, 24, actor, filmmaker

"I tend to not settle for anything. But when I do, it's always the outcome that makes me unhappy."Jefferneil Reyes - Aharon Jinjihashvili


Kenneth Tynan, 20, actor

"I am someone who has opened himself up to a stranger"

Kenneth Tynan 20 Actor - Aharon Jinjihashvili


Laura Auffray, 26, actor

"I am an actor on the autism spectrum learning about human nature through performance."

Laura Auffray 26 Actor - Aharon Jinjihashvili


Laura Carly Miller, 23, actress

“Happy go lucky and extremely passionate about my acting career.”

Laura Carly Miller - Aharon Jinjihashvili

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