Last month, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing the University of Michigan Museum of Art’s Feel Good Friday Halloween celebration—an event that was every bit as joyful as it sounds. The energy, the smiles, the creativity, the sheer friendliness of everyone who walked through those doors…it was all incredible.UMMA truly cultivates a culture of belonging, and it’s been such a privilege to work with their team and document their community-focused events.
One of the highlights of the night was UMMA’s annual Halloween costume contest. The crowd cheered as the finalists were announced, and in the end, the winning costume—“Canada Dry”—was a joyful, homemade masterpiece. While wandering through the museum, I stumbled across a little room where artwork had recently been removed. I asked the winner if they’d be up for a quick portrait in the space—and that spontaneous moment turned into one of my favorite images of the entire evening.
The celebration was packed with things to experience. In addition to the costume contest there were so many fun (and free!!) activities for guests, including artist-made portraits, a photo opp, artist talks in the auditorium, live music, dancing—so many ways for people to connect, create, and simply have fun. It was an unforgettable night and an absolute privilege to document.
A huge thank-you to Kate, Chris, Neil, Mahalina, and everyone at UMMA for their kindness, support, and for welcoming me back to capture such a heartwarming event! Thank You, UMMA!!
