*This story is brought to you by Most Incredible Studio founder Syreeta Gates as a part of our Because Of You: Legacy in Focus campaign honoring contemporary Black photographers*
She’s capturing moments that will live on in the history books forever!
Cheriss May wields her camera purposefully, turning fleeting moments into lasting testaments of power, presence, and possibility. Her lens captures moments, preserves history, and amplifies voices that might otherwise go unheard. As an adjunct professor at Howard University, her alma mater, she is committed to nurturing the next generation of visual storytellers, ensuring they, too, have the tools to shape history. Her influence extends beyond the classroom—as a member of the White House Press Pool, she documents some of the most pivotal moments in modern history, holding space in rooms where representation matters most.
“I think, for me, what I gravitate to are those in-between moments—stories where I connect with people who may not get the attention they deserve,” she says. “Although I photograph some iconic historical people, it’s about making things real.”
May’s lens is a mirror, revealing the undeniable strength, dignity, and brilliance that people hold within themselves. This became evident during a project with the NAACP, where she created power portraits to highlight the strength behind every voice. One moment, in particular, left a lasting impression.
A Black woman working at the convention center stopped by her setup, intrigued but hesitant. “Oh, I don’t take good pictures,” she said. May invited her back on her break. When she returned, May positioned her, clicked the shutter, and showed her the image.
“She just started crying,” May recalls. “She said, ‘I’ve never seen myself like that.’ And I told her, ‘That’s you. That’s who you are. You need to realize just how powerful you are.’”
These moments fuel May’s work. Photography, to her, isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about affirmation. It’s about ensuring people see themselves in their full strength, dignity, and light.
May’s ability to capture presence extends to the legends she’s had the honor of photographing, including Dr. Maya Angelou. During Angelou’s final public appearance, she stood in a room filled with admiration and reverence, documenting the moment with quiet precision.
“When she looked at me and said, ‘Baby, what’s your name?’ I walked over to her, and she took my hand,” May remembers. “I told her my name, and she said, ‘It is my pleasure and my honor to meet you, Cheriss May.’ Then she threw her head back and laughed.”
Whether shared with a literary icon or an everyday woman seeing herself anew, these moments are at the core of May’s purpose. She’s ensuring the right people are seen and remembered.
May wants people to feel her work a century from now, not just see it. “I want them to look at my images and know that the things they thought weren’t possible are possible,” she says. “To see themselves in ways they never imagined and know they can do anything.”
That’s what drives her—capturing power, preserving legacy, and ensuring that today’s stories remain undeniable proof of what’s possible tomorrow.
Cover photo: Meet Cheriss May, the Photographer Capturing History-Shaping Moments in Every Frame/Photo credit: Cheriss May