Based between Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, Cheriss May is an acclaimed editorial and portrait photographer whose images live in the honest, unguarded spaces most of us walk right past. Recognized by Peerspace as one of "The 12 Best Editorial Photographers in Washington, D.C.," and an adjunct professor at her beloved alma mater, Howard University, she photographs people the way a friend remembers them, tenderly, truthfully, and without performance.
"I'm drawn to those quiet in-between moments; those speak the loudest to me. I love when I can quietly observe when photographing people. The most meaningful images happen when nothing is forced, when the moment is honest enough to make the viewer feel like they're standing right there inside it."
Step into Cheriss May's creative world, where everyday gestures carry timeless emotion and a single frame can hold an entire relationship. Her photography reminds us that the truest stories are often told in stillness, in the spaces between, where care, memory, and humanity quietly reveal themselves.
RHYTHM IN FOCUS
A Howard University student dances on campus outside of Cramton Auditorium.
SHE AIN'T HEAVY
I call this photo "She Ain't Heavy," inspired by the phrase "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother." I see this as a reflection of sisterhood, care, and quiet strength, love that makes support feel less like a burden and more like trust, and protection.
GOLDEN DELIGHT
The NCA&T Golden Delight dance team performs at the Howard University homecoming game in Washington, D.C.
FOR MY BISON BROTHER
My Howard University Bison brother Chadwick Boseman, before his passing.
THE BOYS OF JAMESTOWN
Right before the Covid lockdown, I traveled to Ghana, my first time in West Africa, and my first time traveling solo internationally. It gave me the opportunity to learn more about myself and connect with people authentically. I met these two young boys in the Fishermen Village of Jamestown. We talked about their life, I asked permission to photograph them, and I didn't pose them, I wanted them to just be themselves.
BROTHERHOOD
Mike D'Angelo, left, hugs another man in a moment of brotherhood after tense protests at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., in 2020.
UNDER THE LEMON TREE
My cousin, then 105-year-old Clifford E. Johnson, Sr., photographed in his backyard under the lemon tree he planted when he bought his home in 1947. He will be 108 years old in June.
A SALUTE IN THE SNOW
An officer salutes as President Joe Biden's motorcade leaves Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on a snowy Monday, January 15, 2024.
ASCENDING
"Ascending", an image I created for a personal body of work, "Soul Reflection," about how I found my voice through the transformative power of storytelling. In these images I use the metaphor of flowers, particularly hydrangeas, as a symbol for growth and change. Just as the color of hydrangeas is shaped by the pH level of the soil, our light, brilliance, and growth are shaped by the environment we cultivate around us.
ASCENDING FORWARD
"Ascending Forward", another image from "Soul Reflection." Here the hydrangeas continue as a symbol of growth and change: just as their color is shaped by the pH of the soil, our light, brilliance, and growth are shaped by the environment we cultivate around us.
THE LEICA CENTENNIAL
A photograph I created of Emmett Skyy during my Leica Akademie workshop at the Leica 100 celebration in New York, NY, on May 2, 2025.
About the Photographer
Cheriss May, Washington, D.C.–based photographer
Cheriss May is an acclaimed editorial and portrait photographer, recognized by Peerspace as one of "The 12 Best Editorial Photographers in Washington, D.C." She also serves as an adjunct professor at her beloved alma mater, Howard University.
Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Times of London, People, and numerous other publications. It has been exhibited in galleries and shows around the world, including Art Basel in Miami and The Bishop Gallery in New York, and is held in the permanent collections of the African American Museum in Philadelphia and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.
May has been featured by Leica Camera, Adobe, Profoto, "Because of Them We Can," FOX 5, ESPN Andscape, and Lufthansa magazine. She is a public speaker, a Leica mentor and ambassador, a mentor at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and an Adobe Education Leader and Content Authenticity Pioneer. She is based in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, CA.
"The camera gave me a reason to step closer to people, stories, and eventually myself." — Cheriss May
Gear she shoots with: Leica M11-P · Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH · Leica Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH · Leica SL2 · Leica Q3 · Harlowe lights · Profoto lights
Website: cherissmay.com
Instagram: @cherissmay
