Welcome to Life is Service.
A photo series celebrating community, connection, and hospitality.
Since a young age, service has been ingrained in everything I do, and this project stems from that core value.
Life is Service aims to foster a deeper sense of connection and appreciation within our community by humanizing the hospitality sector and highlighting the individuals behind the places we gather.
Through this series, I invite you to pause, reflect, and engage with the human stories that underpin the businesses we frequent. They are more than just reviews & star ratings—these places are made by real people who pour their hearts out, all so we can eat, drink, socialize, and connect. These spaces are the reason a city can feel like home.
By showcasing the humanity within the hospitality industry, Life is Service seeks to inspire newfound appreciation and support for local businesses.
Together, we can enrich the fabric of our community and encourage meaningful connections between patrons and proprietors.
Jordan Abdur-Raoof
Shotbyjbot@gmail.com
If you have a restaurateur, hotelier, Barista, etc. to feature! Please send a note with subject:
‘Life is Service Photo Series’
I first picked up a camera in 2016 for a blog I ran which focused on uplifting underrepresented communities while I was a student at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.
After graduating, I moved to New York City and fell in love with the art of photography and became obsessed with taking a ‘good’ picture. No matter the subject - I had my camera.
Although I was never lost, this series is a homecoming of sorts, I am back - doing what I love, using photography as a tool to share beautiful stories about the people who make our communities, communities.