Humans of St. Louis

The People of St. Louis, One Photo and Story at a Time 

The Humans of St. Louis (HOSTL) book is a 554-page self-published compilation of over 400 color photos and intimate interviews from the streets of St. Louis, Missouri. Stories were selected from thousands of interviews shared online as well as never-before-seen material that was made since the documentary storytelling project started as a social media site in 2014. With an online social media following of over 130,000, storytelling series collaborations, gallery exhibitions, and so many inspiring community conversations sparked from published posts, HOSTL set out to build its first book by weaving the stories together, demonstrating how they boldly tackle issues, question assumptions, and celebrate humanity. Authored by HOSTL co-founder, photographer, and lead storyteller, Lindy Drew, and HOSTL stories editor, Dessa Somerside; edited and designed by a talented team of local creatives who call St. Louis home; and generously made possible by a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in 2018 and additional community support, the first Humans of St. Louis book is of, by, and for the people of St. Louis, one photo and story at a time. Wandering the city's neighborhoods with questions and a camera, HOSTL creates a space for people to be heard and seen when their stories are reflected back to them with the honesty, heartache, or hilarity of when they experienced them. Inspired by Brandon Stanton's Humans of New York, HOSTL values the process of producing and publishing genuine stories and quality portraits to promote productive discussion, civic engagement, and community development. HOSTL believes personal stories have the power to inspire connectivity, demystify diversity, and evoke compassion for each other. The platform was built for people to see, hear, and get to know each other, directly from those who are in St. Louis. This project shines a spotlight on the humanity we all have within us despite our stereotypes, assumptions, and preconceptions.