We recently connected with Cheriss May and have shared our conversation below.

Cheriss, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents encouraged and supported a childhood curiosity with the arts. I was the little girl who liked to color, draw, loved music and was enamored with the camera. I loved taking pictures, as the unofficial – official family photographer. I would show up at family events with my little point and shoot camera taking pictures, posing family for photos. My parents would take me to drop the film off and pick it up, I would show up at the next family event, spread out the photos for my family to check them out. I was so excited to share it and saw the joy it brought them as they looked through them. My parents would upgrade my camera each Christmas, which fueled my curiosity from an interest in taking pictures, to a love for photography. I don’t know if they kew back then, but they encouraged that little girl to pursue her love for art and to go after her dreams.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Cheriss May, a visual storyteller, and educator. After graduating from Howard University in Washington, D.C., I started my career in journalism as a graphic designer for several newspapers. I would design the pages, edit photos, and create graphics. I last worked for USA Today in sports and was laid off. I decided to leave the business and pursue my passion for storytelling with my camera. I was also teaching as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland in College Park, and later Howard University.

Storytelling is my passion, and my purpose. Once I started doing this work, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders and a sense of peace. I love connecting with people, and sharing their authentic stories. I connect to their soul through my lens. I’m able to help people feel comfortable sharing who they are, authentically. No matter what the assignment is, or who it is, I give my best, and strive to be fair and truthful.

I’m proud of myself for not letting fear stop me from pursuing my passion to realize my purpose. This is still challenging, but I lean in to “doing it scared”.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The Covid-19 pandemic was a scary time for business. My work involves being with/around people, and with the country — the world actually, shutting down, I had to pivot to find ways to continue working. It was during this period I started doing talks and presentations online, and thankfully I started to get commissioned to do so. I discovered that I really enjoy speaking. In addition to visual storytelling, I love sharing stories verbally. I continue to speak and give presentations, as an extension of my work as an educator, and I love it!

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Early in my creative journey I wish I knew about the many bootcamps, storytelling workshops, artist resident programs, and fellowships. I’m self-taught, and I feel like I would’ve been further along, if I had those experiences, and connection to those communities and relationships. Community is key in the success of your career. The beauty of community is meeting people who will support you and the work you do. It provides invaluable resources for tools, and work, and relationships with people you can share with, get advice from, and encouragement throughout your career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cherissmay.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherissmay
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherissmay
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cherissmay

Image Credits
Photo of me: By Mynxii Other photos: By Cheriss May