“Here is a story I felt in love with.

I was looking for people to take pictures of. I was near the Louvre, exactly in the cour carrée around the Louvre Pyramid. The weather was nice. I love this place, for its architecture and history of course, but above all because the crowd feeds me with positive energy.

Amongst the crowd of children, wanderers, beautiful women, and tour guides, I saw a couple—a man in a wheelchair and a young woman that looked to be 25. I thought she was a caregiver or a professional tour-guide, but I noticed that their relationship was deeper than that. The way they talked, touched, and grazed one another made that clear. They were in love. From experience, I know that love always shows in photos. Emotions get imprinted on the film.

Before I took pictures their photo, I watched the lovers—studying their smiles, and their movements to try and determine if the picture would be successful. I went closer and introduced the Humans of Paris blog and book. Then I took a couple of pictures. To help Parisians reveal themselves, I always ask them a question or an opinion about life, friends, or projects to accompany each snapshot with text.

As for this couple, I just wanted to know how they met each other.
She told me their story.

The woman was walking her dog in a park. She named him “Google,” like the search engine, so that she could say “Google, search” or “I’m feeling lucky that I have a dog like him.” She was very funny and natural. While walking her dog, she got distracted and didn’t pay attention to Google for a few seconds. The dog ran over to a disabled person in a wheelchair. This was actually habit for Google, as he was trained to care for the disabled and guide them through everyday life. I think that’s her job, but I’m not sure. My job is to only ask one or two questions, no more. Otherwise I would be intruding on a life that isn’t mine.

When she noticed Google running to the disabled man, she just stopped to watch. The man was very kind to her dog. They hugged one another, Google offering his leg or a lick and the man responding with pets and rubs. Clearly, an immediate friendship was born. The woman was struck by this new man’s kindness.

She struck up a conversation with him. He offered to buy her a cup of coffee. They have been a couple for five years now but couldn’t take Google with them to Paris. In my mind, I think of these two as Isabel and Luc.

This is why I love what I do. Between my law studies and evenings with my friends, I get to meet people—get closer to them while guessing about the rest of their lives. And most of all, I love relaying these little slices of life. Some are truly touching, like this story about Google and his humans. Others are more or less complex, but they are always interesting. Come get to know my world through the Humans of Paris book.”