Being in new york
40 Portraits of
New Yorkers
A fine art project by Carlos David
For ten years, I’ve been exploring one question:
What does it mean to be in New York?
Now, I’m inviting you to be part of the answer.
This is a portrait session that invites you to pause, reflect, and step into a space where you can see yourself—and create something lasting.
40 Portraits. 40 Stories. A Living Exhibition of Our City.
Each portrait in this chapter will be featured in an upcoming exhibition—an evolving record of who we are and how this city shapes us.
Why A Portrait Matters
Life doesn’t stop. It keeps asking for more—work, distraction, the latest “news.” Days blur, screens swallow our faces, and the deeper questions slip into the background.
A fine art portrait is an act of resistance. It says: This is who I am, here, now.
Unlike images that vanish in a scroll, a portrait endures—a mirror, a reminder, an anchor you can live with, touch, and pass on.
I was able to see myself in that light that I always wanted to see myself in.
–Kelly Forde
about the project
40 Portraits of New Yorkers
Being in New York is my ongoing series of portraits and interviews about identity, presence, and the spirit of this city.
For this chapter, I’m inviting 40 New Yorkers to pause—to reflect on what it means to live here: your dreams, your grit, your becoming—and to preserve that story as part of New York’s larger story.
Because our lives here matter. When we honor them, we create more than photographs—we create a record.
The experience
A fine art portrait is an investment in your story and your legacy. My goal is to guide you through the experience with ease, so you feel supported every step of the way.
Pre-Session Consultation
We’ll connect to discuss your vision, style, and story.
2-Hour Guided Session
A fully directed, multi-look studio session, designed to help you feel comfortable, empowered, and truly seen.
Audio Story Interview
A 5–10 minute recording of your reflections on New York.
Slideshow Reveal
About two weeks later, you’ll receive a curated slideshow—your first look at your portraits.
Choose Your Collection
Select from three collections that include high-resolution digitals and print credit to design heirloom artwork—framed portraits, legacy folios, or fine art matted prints.
Project session fee
$199
(regular $495)
Your $199 fee reserves your spot and includes a $200 artwork credit, so your session investment goes entirely toward printed artwork.
Your Session Includes:
- Pre-session consultation
- 2-hour guided photoshoot
- Audio story interview
- Private slideshow reveal
Collections begin at $695. Most clients invest $1,200–$5,000+ to create the artwork that feels most meaningful for their home and legacy.
Portraits That Speak of Identity and Legacy
FAQ
Yes — every session includes both fine art portraits and professional, editorial-style headshots. These are natural, timeless images that feel polished without the look of a traditional corporate studio.
This is a special, one-time participation rate for 40 Portraits of New Yorkers. My regular session fee is $495. Artwork sales sustain the project.
Collections are simple packages that include both high-resolution digital portraits and print credit to create heirloom artwork — albums, framed pieces, or fine art prints.
Yes, I can recommend trusted professionals to help you prepare for your session.
Yes. All collections include high-resolution digitals as well as print credit for artwork.
Not directly. The $200 is an artwork credit, which is added on top of the print credit already included in your collection. It gives you extra flexibility to select the artwork you want.
Testimonials
I felt overwhelmed with joy. I've never been part of a photoshoot before.
–Michael Paulino
A love letter to New York City
I’m Carlos David, an award-winning photographer and filmmaker exploring identity, resilience, and presence through fine art portraiture.
40 Portraits of New Yorkers is, in many ways, my love letter to this city—one I love and resist. I dreamed of Being in New York as a teenager—and somehow I ended up here. I’ve tried to leave, but it keeps pulling me back. You can feel you belong quickly, yet the city is unforgiving—grit and resilience are required. Friends move, shops disappear, the pace never slows. Still, New York gives: opportunity, reinvention, and a way to make meaning out of chaos. Everyone leaves with a story that could only happen here. Perhaps that’s what it means to become a New Yorker.
This project preserves not just your story, but our collective story—told through 40 portraits, one chapter at a time.