JOYFUL CLEMANTINE WAMARIYA
Joyful Clemantine Wamariya, author of The Girl Who Smiled Beads, is a storyteller, human rights advocate, and expert in human connection. As she began writing her memoir about war and its aftermath, she sought to visually transform fragments of memory, including loss, love, and resilience, into something whole. Her publisher needed portraits for the book cover and press that could embody the same spirit of healing and hope woven throughout her story. Together, we set out to create images that would not only capture her journey but also inspire others around the world to share their own.APPROACH + OUTCOME
SERVICES PROVIDEDLOCATION SCOUTINGSTYLING + CREATIVE DIRECTIONPRODUCTIONPHOTOGRAPHYPRESS PHOTOGRAPHY + LICENSING
Through open conversations, we uncovered a recurring memory of Joyful Clemantine's mother’s garden. It was a place of love, sharing and freedom before the war. To honor that feeling, we found a lush garden in Berkeley that mirrored her recollections, where sunlight and stillness became part of the story. The resulting portraits conveyed both remembrance and renewal, striking a deep emotional chord with every viewer. Several images were later licensed by Penguin Random House, Cornerstone Books, Vogue, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Mother Jones, San Francisco Magazine, and NBC’s Today Show. These moments continue to ignite conversations about memory, resilience, and the enduring power of storytelling and the human spirit.
