Was there a moment or event in your life that inspired you to conceptualize and take on the idea of the Last Days project?

What inspired the project was actually my godmother passing away. That really impacted me, so I started thinking about how others may cope with loss as I was coping with it. A lot of icons passed away during that time last year too — so it made me want to reach out to these people who inspire me and really learn about their lives. The project has evolved into a kind of social commentary on where we are as people in this digital age, what we care about, where our morals are, and what really matters. The influx of the internet and social media has changed the way that people interact with people. What matters to you most? I don’t care about you jewelry or your last single — if you’re someone who’s influencing people, I want to know what you’re really about.

Who are some of your favorite subjects, and what were the staying interactions you had with them?

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Naomi Campbell was a really interesting one. I waited in line to see her at the VFiles show she did with Young Thug. When I got to her, she saw the camera and freaked out: “I love polaroids so much!” So she agreed to have her photo taken, and we talked about the project, and I asked her the question and she answered the question, but didn’t write it down — she sat there for a moment, thinking hard on it, and she said it was a really hard question for her to answer: I don’t live that way. And I heard her on that. Naomi is an icon, like she will never truly die. Her physical will pass, but that name and influence will never leave the world. I want people to realize that their bodies will leave, but their impact will always stay. And that’s how you have to live your life.

Steve Aoki was fun to shoot too. I was walking around a showroom during Fashion Week, and I found and approached him and he was really nice, the whole time I watched him interact with people, and he was so kind to all of them. Not a lot of people can cope with all the attention, but he was so so kind. I snuck backstage and again, really witnessed that positive energy and it stuck with me. When I asked the question, he said he would just want to feel the way he felt in that moment. Seeing him work like that, it taught me a lot about work ethic and how the way you work and the attitude you bring impacts everyone.