I took this picture last year on Halloween, my first time attending the West Hollywood Halloween Parade. The event had been shut down for years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I was especially excited to finally experience it. My mom had always told me great things about it, and I couldn’t wait to see it for myself.
More than anything, I was eager to photograph the people in their costumes. Halloween has always held a special place in my heart because of the way it transforms people—how it gives them permission to be bold, uninhibited, and free. For one night, you get to wear something you’d never put on any other day and fully embrace a different side of yourself.
I’ve always been drawn to photographing people candidly, capturing their essence and seeing how confident they truly are. The photos I took that night, especially this one, are some of my favorites. You can see how completely this person is feeling themself—like, for that moment, they were the only person on Santa Monica Blvd.
