SMITHVILLE U.S.A.

Excerpts from an interview with Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon on portrait photography and working in Smithville

Photography has always been my excuse to walk up to strangers and say hello. In Smithville, that simple act introduced me to nearly 150 people I’m now grateful to call friends. Every one of them welcomed me with generosity, curiosity, and a willingness to share their stories. To me, that’s one of the greatest gifts a person can offer—their time, attention, and trust.

A sitting is never just about making a photograph. It’s about creating a space where someone feels seen, heard, and comfortable enough to set aside the version of themselves they show the world every day. Whether that happens through conversation, humor, music, or simply listening, creating that sense of trust is my responsibility. Without it, a portrait is just a picture.

Every portrait is a collaboration between two people who, more often than not, have only just met. My role is to create a space where curiosity replaces self-consciousness and trust can emerge. Looking back, I think that instinct comes from growing up as an immigrant. I learned early how to read a room, adapt to unfamiliar spaces, and find common ground. Photography became a natural extension of those lessons.

I’m deeply grateful to everyone in Smithville who took that leap with me. My hope is that this exhibition encourages viewers to see their neighbors—and perhaps themselves—with fresh eyes. If these portraits inspire even a few new conversations, friendships, or reasons to explore the community a little more deeply, then this project has done exactly what I hoped it would.