“Joy (she/her) and Ivan (he/him) have been together for three years, after first connecting on a dating app. Their relationship began long-distance, which pushed them to build a strong foundation of trust and open communication. Marriage is a tricky subject for them—while it’s something they both dream about, it also brings challenges. For Ivan, certain cultural traditions make the conversation complex, while Joy’s career adds another layer of uncertainty. Still, they share a deep excitement about building a future together, including starting a family.
Through their love, they’ve found creative and beautiful ways to express appreciation for each other, strengthening not just their romance but also their friendship. Playfulness is at the heart of their connection—they bring out each other’s inner child while striving to balance their personal lives with their relationship. As we explore new perspectives we invite you to step into the emotional space of connection and experience the deeper lessons that shared experiences can afford humanity. To everyone who has participated openly and vulnerably in our project – we appreciate what you have shared with us and hope others do as well.
Follow their story here: / joyofodu / ivansakou “
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Topaz Adizes LINE PRODUCER | Nicolás Lejtreger PRODUCTION ASSISTANT | Augustin Hardy DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY | Taylor Camarot CAMERA ASSISTANT | Jess Averbeck SOUND OPERATOR | Carla Geronimi BTS PHOTOGRAPHER | Nacho Rodríguez EDITOR | Samanta Barbosa WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF | Joy & Ivan
From folks sharing how this has opened them up to love to analyzing our body language, this has certainly been a fascinating experiment in opening up to the world.
We don’t do it that often, and are grateful for the beautiful space in which to do so — hope you enjoy!
JOY OFODU | From Joy to the World 