Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Max & Mel

I photographed Max and Mel for my ongoing series exploring modern love. They met on a dating app, and as we shared a cup of tea in their kitchen, they told me ‘we matched because of cats’. They said that if dating apps didn't exist, they would never have met. The pandemic had made it increasingly difficult to meet new people and they both told me they suffered from loneliness and a longing for connection.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: United Kingdom
Copyright: © Curtis Hughes