Check Out Iverson Smith’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Iverson Smith.

Hi Iverson, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Iverson, born and raised in Oakland, California. I started my professional photography and videography journey about 5 years ago, and it all began with a project called
“Ivy’s Yearbook.”
It originally came from a sociology assignment
where I asked a simple question:
What is one thing we all collectively share as humans?
My answer was a smile.
Through my time studying Psychology, and Sociology I became infatuated with the idea of self expression, and the way our experiences shape our perceptions of the world around us,
while reflecting ourselves intuitively.
I feel as through my experiences with photography I’ve learned so much about the human experience and our ability to communicate expression, how we feel directly reflects our emotion, which in turn influences so many depths of expression.
The seven universal emotions, as identified by Dr. Paul Ekman, are anger, contempt, fear, disgust, happiness, sadness, and surprise.
Each person I’ve met has shown me a piece of their own unique perspective, by simply expressing themselves.
I feel as if I have a very personal relationship with how I view the world and the way in which my art translates.
I felt this through my Polaroid project
the assignment was
to break a “social norm” after some research I found the basics of what we’d categorized as “social norms”.
I wanted to do something that we could all relate too in some form, I realized Social Media, is a “social norm” we post, scroll, like, comment and carry on about our days. I wondered what if we made social media, physical?
I went to school the next day, and I shot the entire project on Polaroids and
scrap-booked them in real time, with tape or glue, capturing real, unfiltered moments of people, asking them for their autographs, or a story about their day or just a brief meeting, just exchanging energies as we cross paths.
What started as a school project quickly turned into something much bigger—people became infatuated with the idea of having a physical memory they could hold. That pushed me to take it beyond school and into downtown, where I connected with strangers and built genuine moments through photography.
Over time, that turned into a community.
Each smile, reminds me
There are people all across my city holding onto memories I captured—moments we shared through a single photo.
As I grew, I upgraded my gear. My first camera was gifted from one of my closest friends, who believed in my ability, and as I grew my portfolio. I payed them back month by month, and began building my professional career.
I now specialize in portrait photography and continue expanding my reach through my website and social media (@whereisiverson). What started as a simple idea has turned into a growing brand and creative identity.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey hasn’t been a straight or easy path, and a lot of who I am was shaped long before I ever picked up a camera.
I grew up navigating life alongside my mother, she was a poet, a ballet dancer, a hippie, an artist, and the sweetest soul the world has known. She is deaf, and although she couldn’t hear the world around her, the way she loved was undeniable.
She endured more pain than most—abuse, hardship, and experiences that could have broken her—but still poured everything she had into caring for me. Watching her, taught me strength in a quiet, unspoken way.
Without a father present, I had to grow up, and learn things on my own, when I was 13.
I moved in with my grandparents who provided the foundation that kept me grounded and gave me a sense of stability.
Even with that support, I struggled deeply with my identity. My Grandparents medicated my ADHD, while at school I was targeted because of my energy, and ethnic background. I started to internalize these experiences, questioning my worth but instead of shrinking myself to avoid standing out.
I wanted to show the world what I believed in.
I ran away, and decided to find my own way from 17-18. Until I went to college to have a roof over my head, while turning my entire dorm into a photography studio, studied photography on my own, learned website design, and avoided each class until I was kicked out. unmedicated, with ambition beyond measure, I was homeless again at 19. I would sleep at well known parks, and people who knew about my Polaroids must’ve thought I was just enjoying the sun, they’d ask me for a Polaroid, and I’d graciously give one, I realized in those moments I will always have who I am, even if I have nothing. At 19, I lived in a hostel, and shared a list chores with a crew of people for living. I spent each moment building my website, learning how to perfect my skill. At 20, I got my own room, and started renting, and from there I turned my extra space into a studio, and began building
I realized that in this life, and each moment I shape has been gifted to me, for without my ancestral lineage it would not be possible for me to be here today.
That mindset followed me into my creative journey, where putting myself out there felt like confronting every insecurity I had built up over the years.
But photography became more than an outlet, it slowly changed my perspective.
Through capturing others, I began to recognize the beauty, individuality, and emotion in people, and eventually started to see those same qualities within myself.
What began as a way to connect with others turned into a way of healing and understanding who I am.
Every challenge I faced—my upbringing, the absence, the doubt, the pressure to fit in—shaped not only my character but also the way I approach my work.
It’s why I care so much about making people feel seen and valued, because I know what it feels like to question whether you are.
Over time, I’ve learned that the parts of myself, I saw as flawed were simply my inability to perceive myself.
Once I changed my thoughts, my perception of self changed, my reflection smiles, as I smile.
The moment I realized, what we feel impacts not only our expressions, but who we believe we can become.
I believe that, each flaw you’ve personally perceived and attributed to yourself, is your own experiences shaping how you see the world, hidden behind the acknowledgement of self, the action of embracing the opposite of each flaw, will begin to shape the pieces of yourself, allowing you to see what you subconsciously choose not too.
Your smile, has a reflection you may never choose to see, your own soul lights up as you interact with another, the way we uniquely express with the people we love, the way confidence exudes from our body language.
A piece of our soul is displayed, every single day, but how many times have you noticed yours?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
One of the biggest challenges has been turning something so personal and passion-driven into something sustainable. When you start from a place of pure creativity—like handing out Polaroids to strangers—it’s not always easy to shift into pricing your work and being taken seriously as a professional.
There were also moments of self-doubt, especially early on, wondering if people would continue to care about what I was creating. Building consistency, putting myself out there, and growing a platform all took time and patience.
But every challenge helped shape my perspective and made me more intentional about my work and my growth.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a photographer and videographer, but at my core, I’m a storyteller. I specialize in portrait photography—capturing people in a way that feels real, honest, and personal.
What I’m most proud of is the community I’ve built through my work. From a single Polaroid to now a growing brand, I’ve been able to connect with people on a deeper level and create something meaningful that lasts beyond the moment.
What sets me apart is how I approach people. I don’t just take photos—I create experiences. Whether it’s a quick interaction on the street or a full shoot, I try to make people feel seen and comfortable, and that translates into the final image.
My work isn’t just about how something looks—it’s about how it feels.

What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is creating and connecting.
There’s something powerful about capturing a moment and giving someone a memory they didn’t even realize was possible. Seeing people react to their photos, watching them smile, or hold onto something I created—that’s what drives me.
It’s also the community aspect. Inspiring people amongst my community to exude their passion and creativity. Knowing that something I started has reached so many people and created real connections—that’s bigger than photography for me.

Pricing:

• Portrait sessions: $300–500$
• – Events/Wedding: 1200$-
• – Creative / brand shoots: 550$-1,000
• – Polaroid sessions / pop-ups: 450$-850$

Contact Info:

• Website: https://whereisiverson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whereisiverson
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@whereisiverson