One prominent through line in the work of Riverside, California–based photographer Jenna Beekhuis is exploring how her generation finds connection in unrestrained individual expression, and it’s one that she seeks to elevate through portraiture to the life stories of influential people. “The majority of my inspiration stems from the people I photograph as I get a glimpse into their unique worldview and what inspires them,” she explains. “And when I study the timeless work of people like Vivian Maier or powerful images in international publications, I’m inspired to capture 21st-century characters who I can preserve for years to come.” During her studies in photography at California Baptist University in Riverside, California, her professors helped transmute her curiosity of other people’s stories into a talent for portraiture, which informed her distinctively contemporary treatment of color, scene and subject. “Because my work focuses on celebrating the unique styles of other creatives, my style relies on adaptability,” Beekhuis says. “I work to make even the simplest scenes feel larger than life, a single frame within a larger narrative that balances both the community and individuality of my subjects. I treat every scenario as if the subject and the scene are their own characters and, when put together, create a strong connection.” Through her work, she has come to an understanding of the ways her peers use self-expression and self-exploration to find purpose and the causes they care about—connections that often emerge when she steps back and lets her portraiture subjects take the lead. “More times than not, asking questions rather than asserting my own vision has led to some of the best moments, memories and photos,” Beekhuis says. “I want to continue that curiosity, both for my own sake and as a testament to the human experience.”