Celebrating the American Dream

When you believe in a dream with all your heart great things are bound to come to life. There may be bumps along the way, but if you are persistent, your hard work will be recognized and pay off.

There were times when I wanted to stop working on this project, especially right before the book went to press. Today, however, I am happier than I've been in ages and excited about the possibilities to have a profound impact on a child's life through this project. 

The images below show some of the people who care about the message of this project and believe in it enough to help spread the word and empower children all over America.

Today, we are asking you to come and join us in helping to inspire the next generation. Whether you have children or not we need your support. You can do so my going to this link and joining the Kickstarter group that believe in the American Dream

Caption: Soul Food sisters at the Kickstarter launch party for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photograph by Ronald Pollard.

Caption: Actresses Nicole Ari Parker and Angela Bassett co-host the Kickstarter launch of FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photographs by Ronald Pollard.

Caption: Host for the Kickstarter Launch Party, Dr. Pearl E. Grimes, Nicole Ari Parker, Felicia D. Henderson and Angela Bassett. Photograph by Rnoald Pollard

Caption: Oregon subject McKenna from Future American President with her father at the Kickstarter launch event for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photograph by Ronald Pollard.

Caption: Mike Freeze, Linda, 

Podcast host Marquetta Breslin and actress Angela Bassett at the Kickstarter launch party for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photograph by Ronald Pollard.

Caption: Boris Kodjoe, Nicole Ari Parker, Maki Sekine and Matthew Jordan Smith at the Kickstarter release party for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photographs by Ronald Pollard.

Caption: Actress Melissa De Sousa and Boris Kodjoe at the Kickstarter launch party for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photographs by Ron Pollard.

Caption: Make Sekine and Jessica JJ Rabone at the Kickstarter launch of FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photographs by Ronald Pollard.

Caption: Photographer Matthew Jordan Smith and actor Courtney B. Vance speaking at the Kickstarter launch party for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photographs by Ron Pollard.

Caption: Photographer Matthew Jordan Smith and TV producer Gordon Recht speaking at the Kickstarter launch event for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM.Photographs by Ronald Rollard

Caption: Guest Maithy at the Kickstarter launch party for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photograph by Ron Pollard.

Caption: Kids of Future American President at the Kickstarter launch party for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photographs by Ronald Pollard.

Caption: Darryl Havens and friend at the Kickstarter launch party for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photographs by Ronald Pollard.

Caption: The Kickstarter launch party for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photographs by Ronald Pollard. 

Caption: Photograph by George DeLoache

Caption: Matthew Jordan Smith, Gordon Recht and Chaz Guest at the Kickstarter launch party for FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photograph by George DeLoache

Caption: Future American President covergirl Sky with sister Raine and mother, Ami Torres. Photograph by George DeLoache

Caption: celebrating the Kickstarter launch of FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM. Photograph by George DeLoache

How To Fight Your Fear - Lessons from Las Vegas

Sometimes the biggest obstacles we face in life come from ourselves. We have a dream, but we talk ourselves out of it before we even begin because of our fear. This was almost the case when deciding to create Future American President. 

My idea was to travel to every state in America and photograph children as a way to inspire them to dream big. I wanted to help children imagine themselves as the President of the United States by telling them I believe they have the ability to become the president, and then photographing them as a future president. I believe by combining a profound moment with a simple but powerful question, "what would you do if you were the President of the United States 50 years from now.", then this moment could possibly create a spark in a child's life.  Maybe even inspire that child to do great things in the future and become a future American president.

My fear almost stopped me before I even began. The fear part of my idea came from wanting to approach families that I did not know, strangers, and asking them if I can photograph their children. My internal fight with fear had me doubtful about the project one day and excited the next. The first test came in Las Vegas when I approached my first family. The lump in my stomach reminded me of playing sports as a kid. That fear I had right before a game as my stomach was in knots came back as I approached my first family.  With sports, as soon as the game started, the fear (the knot in my stomach) went away as soon as the whistle blew to start the game. It was exactly the same with doing this book project. The first family that I approached in Las Vegas looked at me like I was crazy, (or my fear had me thinking so) but I put all my passion for this project in every single word as I described what I was doing. The family in Las Vegas was a big family, which increased the fear factor, but they surrounded me and listened as I shared my concept. 

To give the families confidence in my ability to make this project come to life, I brought along my first two books, Sepia Dreams and Lost and Found. I also brought along examples of my celebrity work. This helped to let the families know that I was capable of bringing this project to life, and to let them know I wasn't some crazy person with a camera.

 When I finished talking to the first family, they all looked at each other and said, "sure, if he wants to do it", then they turned to their son and asked him if he wanted to be photographed. He must have wondered what in the world was going on, because all of the sudden all the adults were giving him their full attention, and I was on my knees telling him that I believe he has the ability to do great things in life one day, even the ability to become the president one day. 

The next thing I knew I was setting up my Profoto strobe lights, taking light meter readings, (which always makes my subject curious) and giving my six-year-old subject his board to hold. The photo shoot went well and my subject, little Chase, was serious and presidential in his images. As I photographed him, his entire family looked on smiling and taking pictures of the moment. After the 5 minute photo shoot ended, I asked Chase to write down what he would do if he were the President of the United States 50 years from now. He looked up as he held my sharpie and started to think. His family was now beginning to repeat the question, and started to write. His mother helped him but only a little bit, and soon his statement was complete and the project was on its way.

Chase in Las Vegas for Future American President

Sometimes our fears can get the best of us and talk us out of doing something incredible, like creating that amazing new product, or bringing a life changing idea to life. The road to success is paved with bricks of fear and doubt, but you have to just walk around, walk over or jump over your fear and get on the path to creating the life you want most.

Future American President is now completed and available, but something new and exciting is coming in July, 2015. 

Always Dream Big