8 Billion Ones

04/10/2026

There are some sessions you don’t forget… and Ryan is one of those people you don’t forget either.

The way he cares, the way he shows love...it’s genuine, joyful, and completely his own. And yes, the glasses slipping down his nose? That’s classic Ryan.

Towards the end of our time together, Ryan lit up and asked if he could go get his girlfriend, Hannah, to be in a few photos. How can you say no to that?

But, after reflecting on the session, what stayed with me most is the story his parents shared…

“Being Ryan’s parents… it’s a gift that I don’t think we fully understood where he would take us. We’ve been very blessed because of it, to get to meet a whole new world that we would have missed.”

“He’s been amazing. He’s brought out the best in us. It’s not always smooth sailing… there have been challenges and heartbreak… but it’s made us who we are as a family.”

“He sets the tone for our family. It’s better. The tone of our family is way better than if we wouldn’t have had Ryan.”

“We’ve always had expectations for him—just like our other kids… maybe with a little more patience. And he’s never disappointed us. He rises to the occasion.”

“We were once afraid of what his future might look like… but those fears were replaced by the community he built for himself.”

Ryan is out in the world—working, connecting, showing up.
An usher at Busch Stadium. Working at Enterprise Center. A MetroLink ambassador. A host at The Fox Theater.

He doesn’t just belong… he creates belonging wherever he goes.

And in Ryan’s words:

“I’m very friendly and easy at making new friends. I’m a hard worker. What makes me happy is hanging out with my friends, my family, and my romantic partner, Hannah… Belonging means making sure people with disabilities know that this is their place and they belong.”

This is Ryan. Full of joy. Full of purpose. And full of love.

03/25/2026

Hannah's story is not for the faint of heart. She has been through the fire, literally and figuratively, and has not only survived but is thriving and living to tell her story with the hope that it will reach anyone who needs to hear it. Through her healing, her goal is to heal others. Meet Hannah:

"At eleven years old, I had to take the stand in a courtroom and tell the truth about what my best friend’s stepfather had done to me. I spoke clearly, but I did not cry. Because of that, he walked free. Years later, a woman stopped me while I was outside playing and told me she knew what Ron had done to me. I asked her how she knew and she said because she had walked in on him doing the same thing to her 3-yr old daughter. That knowledge came too late to protect me. I carried that pain inside and it turned into anger.

Motherhood softened that anger and gave me purpose. I built a career in the health insurance field and appeared successful on the outside, while inside my marriage was volatile and unsafe. On October 13, 2007, while I was sleeping with my children in our home, my husband set me on fire. I survived with burns covering 67 percent of my body. Recovery was long and brutal, and even now I live with ongoing medical issues from that night, including COPD. He is scheduled to be released from prison on October 13, 2026. 19 years to the day it happened.

In the aftermath, I also battled addiction. First to medications prescribed by doctors, then to alcohol. What began as treatment became dependence. Recovery required honesty, humility, and help. In 2018, I began treatment. I got therapy and started addressing complex PTSD, chronic insomnia, and anxiety. Healing became layered and ongoing, but real. Just like being in the burn unit getting my skin debrided every morning at five a.m. This was the equivalent to that. But it was like debriding my mind, heart and soul.

I self-published my story, “Heroes and Monsters” and advocacy became part of my calling. I support victims, survivors, and families navigating trauma. On October 10, 2025, I petitioned for a federal violence registry under Hannah’s Law on Change.org."

You can read Hannah's full story & view more of her powerful portraits on our website:

https://8billionones.org/story-library-six/hannah-heroes-and-monsters

You can also support Hannah, and purchase her book, "Heroes and Monsters" on Amazon:

https://a.co/d/0cnO5TRx

03/13/2026

Here's Sophia. She is PURE JOY!

"Sophia is so sweet and precious. We just absolutely love her. She’s such a blessing for everybody in our family. Everybody loves Sophia—what’s not to love? She’s our pride and joy, our firstborn.

We got pregnant pretty fast after we got married. We were trying, and when we found out we were expecting, we were so happy.

Sophia has taught us so many things. She’s changed my perspective on disabilities completely. I’ve learned to see the ability in people and not count someone out just because they have a diagnosis. People can still live meaningful, beautiful lives.

In the beginning it was a lot to take in. There were doctor’s appointments and diagnoses, and sometimes we would leave one appointment hearing one thing and later see something different written in her chart. It was confusing and overwhelming. At first our focus was just getting her stable.

Now our focus is school and helping her keep progressing and meeting her goals.

Sophia loves going to school. She thrives on routine. She’s a creature of habit, so when school isn’t in session it throws her off a little. Winter break was tough—she was basically saying, “What do you mean no school for two weeks?”

She loves music and dancing. That’s her favorite thing. She has her Tonies, and as soon as she wakes up, she wants her Peanuts Tonie playing. She’ll walk around the house dancing while she’s getting ready for school.

One of the most rewarding things has been watching her succeed. Seeing her grow and do things now that we worked so hard on before. Walking was one of those milestones. We worked tirelessly on it, and seeing her walk made every bit of that effort worth it.

My dream for Sophia is whatever her dream is. I’m just here to help set her up for success.

To me, belonging means having somewhere you feel accepted. Having your people. Your tribe.

We’re all just learning as we go." — Rochelle, Sophia's Mom.

📷 From Belonging — the upcoming hardcover art book
Coming Fall 2026

03/06/2026

This is Tess and here is a bit of what her mom, Connilee, told us:

"When we first found out Tess had Down syndrome, we were scared.

We knew early in the pregnancy. There were a lot of worries. A lot of unknowns. Even though we had support from the very beginning, it still felt overwhelming.

We didn’t tell everyone right away.
Not because we were ashamed — but because we didn’t want the “I’m really sorry.”

We were scared… but this is who she is.
And we’re not sorry about it.

Now when someone tells me they’re expecting a baby with Down syndrome, my reaction is completely different.

It’s, “Yay! How exciting!”

Because now we know.

We know how wonderful it is.
We know how much your life changes — and how much it changes for the better.
Are there hard times? Of course.
But there is so much joy.

So much love.
So much growth.
So much perspective.

Tess is exactly who she is meant to be. And we wouldn’t change her for the world."

—

Photographing Tess for the Belonging series was an honor AND a blast! Stories like hers are exactly why this project exists — to move us past fear and into understanding, past assumptions and into relationship.

Every person belongs!

The coffee table art book Belonging will be released Fall 2026, and I cannot wait to share these powerful stories with you.

Simply put, 8 Billion One's vision is to change the world - through people and their stories. As an ongoing movement we exist to document and share stories to connect and empower people. Eight billion one-of-a-kind creations call this planet home -- each of these "ones" being important, w

02/27/2026

There are some people who enter a room and instantly change the atmosphere...not by demanding attention, but by offering something far more powerful: pure, unguarded love.

Riley is one of those people.

From the moment she walked into our makeshift studio in St. Louis, we were completely enamored with her. She carries a presence that is disarming in the most beautiful way...an openness, an acceptance, and a warmth that makes you feel instantly seen and valued. She doesn’t hold back love. She gives it freely.

At the end of our session, as she was walking out, she turned to me, looked directly into I eyes, and said, “Randy, I love you.” I felt my throat tighten and my eyes well up. In that moment, I wasn’t just the photographer. I was another human being receiving a priceless gift.

Her mother Cindy shared this about Riley:

“Every day is an adventure. She’s full of love and entertainment. Nobody’s a stranger. She makes friends wherever we go. She makes people happy.

When she was five, we walked into a birthday party, and she was in the middle of the dance floor pulling everyone in. None of them were dancing, but she got the room going.

She’s the life of the party. Always.
She’s taught me to find joy in people and appreciate every day. She makes people feel special. She’ll tell me to slow down and just sit. She makes me appreciate life. It’s a gift.

My dream is for her to be happy, find love and friendship, and live independently or with friends. When I hear the word belonging, I think that means feeling loved.”

Riley doesn’t just belong in this world.
She reminds the rest of us how to belong—to each other.
————
And BIG NEWS! I’m honored to share that this Riley is part of an ongoing body of work created in partnership with Gateway Down Syndrome Association. Together, we are creating a coffee table art book titled "Belonging", to be released in late 2026, featuring black-and-white portraits and personal stories that celebrate the beauty, dignity, and humanity of individuals living with Down syndrome.

These are not just portraits. They are invitations to see, to feel, and to love more deeply.

01/15/2026

We have recently been working with the Down syndrome community again on an exciting project... (more to come on that later); it made me think of a favorite portrait I took in 2019 as part of the exhibit, "Just As I Am". This is CJ, and this is what CJ's mom, Morcie, had to say about her son.

"When CJ was born the doctor said, “He’s a mongoloid! These kinds of kids are put into a home. Do you have any questions?” I replied to the doctor, “A home? He has a home; he’s going home with me!” The doctor told us that CJ would not live past seven, so I went and bought a plot at a cemetery. CJ is now 42 years old and has filled my life with love and purpose."

"I was 22 years old and knew nothing about Down syndrome, so I went to the local library and checked out some books. I was determined to give CJ the very best life possible. CJ’s father did not accept him when he was born and he has never been in the picture, so I raised him the best I could as a single mom and now he calls himself “the man of the house” and takes great pride in that."

"Everybody around town knows CJ; he is friends with everybody. He does a lot of community service and is famous for his dance performances at community events. CJ has worked for Cabela’s for 14 years and won the employee of the month. He loves photography and takes photos for Camp Guardian- a camp that the Missouri National Guard has yearly for members that have special needs children. He also won the Reserve Grand Champion Ribbon for a picture he took of a Holocaust statue while on a trip to Baltimore. In addition, he does ceramics and participates in Special Olympics."

"CJ understands that he is a little different, but God loves him just as much. That’s what I always tell him. CJ has made me a better person. If I had to do it all over again, I’d have another CJ...he is perfect in every way. This poem describes CJ perfectly:"

He thinks no evil - does no harm,
his disposition is always calm.
So full of love and kindness too,
he only sees the good in you.
Anger, lust, they’re not real.
Such normal impulses he does not feel.
He is innocent, this is true.
Of hate and fear and things we do.
Such perfect trust - so hard to find,
exemplifies his peace of mind.
With eyes upturned and heart sincere,
His thoughts may seem quite far from here.
A deeper knowledge, yet not expressed,
Perhaps he’s wiser than the rest.
He’s sweet and gentle, meek and mild.
He’s our loving Down syndrome child. (Author Unknown)

01/07/2026

There are moments when a single face holds two stories at once — the one the world sees, and the one it never knew existed. For years, only Jessica’s black-and-white portrait has been part of The Road I Call Home exhibit. It carries the weight, the exhaustion, the truth of the season of life she was walking through. But the color portrait — never shared before — reveals another side of her. Softer. Brighter. A hint of hope rising through everything she had endured. Both are true. Both belong to her. Here is a part of Jessica’s story:

“The hardest thing about getting off the streets is missing the people I met out there… and trying to keep my mind set on ‘I can’t help everybody.’ When I get a place, I go back out and check on the people I used to hang out with — see if they need ci******es, shoes. Then others find me and say they need this or that… and before I know it, I’ve spent a hundred dollars I don’t have. And then I can’t pay rent anymore.”

“It’s a big heartache, being homeless. You hear what people have gone through — getting into a place only to be hurt and kicked back out. Losing everything because they trusted their instincts and ran. Tents burned down. Baby pictures gone. I got thrown in jail and when I got out, my tent was burned to the ground. Everyone was gone. I had nothing.”

“Not everyone is as good as they seem, and not everyone is as bad as you think. I help people as much as I can… but if you take advantage of my kindness, I’m going to stand up for myself. It’s not revenge — it’s survival.”

And then she said something with unexpected lightness: “Don’t make a bucket list. Just find things that excite you. Something small every day that makes you smile… or makes someone else smile.”

This is Jessica — in black-and-white and in color, in struggle and in resilience. A reminder that every person living on the streets carries entire worlds inside them. Worlds worth seeing. Worlds worth hearing. Worlds worth honoring.

12/18/2025

I asked Eric, “What do you want more than anything?” He paused, then said the words that cut to the heart of it all: “For someone to look at me and not see a homeless person.”

"I've been a loner and homeless on and off most of my life. The hardest part—I just wanted to be loved, to have a family. My mom died of cancer when I was eight, and from then on, it was really hard. I was scared. Alone. Other kids’ parents would visit and take them in. That made me stronger."

"I'm fifty-four now. I haven’t had much, haven’t gone many places. But I know I have a purpose: to show love, care, and concern. I like helping people. To me, money and power are the root of evil. If instead of isolating and judging, we loved each other… this world would be different."

"You can’t judge anyone from the outside. It’s what’s inside that counts. No matter the badness, try to bring out the goodness. That’s what I want to do."

"When I’m walking down the street, I’d want people to just look at me like a person. Love, peace, serenity—and God—that’s everything."

"I pick up trash. I care about our children and our future. I’d give my life a thousand times so they could have a chance. We don’t need money to be happy. We need love. Just love your neighbor."

"I didn’t think I’d live this long. But God has a purpose for me. I just talked to my daughter—she’s wonderful. I have a wonderful son too."

"Don’t ever lose faith. Always keep faith. Don’t give up. And forgive. I forgive everyone."

12/11/2025

A few years ago, we were working on "The Road Home" project in Kansas City. The day we arrived, I was backing up my car unloading gear to set up our studio for the week, and a lady, which we had never met, walked right up to us—full of personality—and introduced herself as “Baby Senior.” I smiled instantly. We later learned her name is Elizabeth.

We had no idea she’d end up in front of our camera that day, filling a last-minute open slot. But sometimes life puts the right person in your path. During her portrait session, she shared parts of her story. She’s been homeless off and on since 2018 and has endured more than most of us can imagine. Here are some of the words Baby Senior offered us—raw, unfiltered, and deeply human:

“All I want is respect. Peace of mankind and to treat me as a senior… In this society, they call me a low-class homeless person. I was hit by a car on New Year’s Day downtown. They called me a hobo. Nobody called the ambulance or police. I was thrown 15 feet, had a concussion, and bruises everywhere.”

And then she looked at us and said, “Make the best of your life. Cherish your life before the day the Lord takes you… You have a journey—make it better for yourself.”

Baby Senior reminds me that every person we meet carries a story, a history, and a wisdom we could easily miss if we rush past them.

12/04/2025

This holiday season, give a gift that truly sees people. "The Road I Call Home" art book shares over 100 portraits and stories of individuals experiencing homelessness—reminding us that compassion has the power to change lives.

"The Road I Call Home" is incredibly close to our heart. Randy created this book so more people could see, truly see, our unsheltered neighbors—with compassion, dignity, and love.

It’s now on sale for only $30. And, if you’d like, Randy will personally hand-sign your copy of this limited first edition. Your purchase helps share a powerful truth: Every person matters. Every life has worth. Beauty, dignity, respect, and love belong to every human being—including those without a home.

🔗 Order a signed copy:
www.randybacon.com/shop

About the book:
· Over 200 pages, beautifully designed and printed.
· More than 100 portraits & heartfelt stories from "The Road I Call Home" exhibition.
· Includes exclusive behind-the-scenes reflections and personal insights.
· This exhibition has traveled nationwide to museums, galleries, and community venues—raising compassion and awareness along the way.

11/28/2025

✨Give the gift of hope and humanity.✨

This season, give a gift that makes a difference. "The Road I Call Home" celebrates the dignity, strength, and humanity of our unsheltered neighbors.

For a limited time, we are offering special holiday pricing on this beautifully photographed and curated, one-of-a-kind coffee table art book: only $30. You can request a hand-signed copy by the artist as well for yourself or your loved one.

Life is art, and art is life. This book is proof of that. ❤
Click the link below to purchase your gift now:

https://www.randybacon.com/shop