This series of portraits explores the categorizations of people– judgements and assumptions made that were only skin-deep. The project’s name comes from question number nine on the 2010 census – “What is person 1’s race?” Every person photographed experienced an awkward situation about their race or ethnic group because of a snap judgement based on their appearances alone. Through this series of portraits, custom-made t-shirts correct any stereotypes that might be made, avoiding awkwardness and pre-judgement (almost) altogether. People are categorized by what they are not–and for once, it makes life simpler.

Special thanks to Thomas Martinez for help with lighting and photography.