Courtesy of Edwin Mera

Most Yalies have likely stumbled across one of Eddi’s Instagram reels — a street encounter that usually begins with something like: “Hey man, I love your outfit. Could I take a picture of you? My name is Eddi and I’m a photographer.” After the shoot, he’ll ask a simple question: What makes you happy?

Eddi, whose real name is Edwin Mera, has photographed more than 10,000 people. His endeavors are fueled by a desire to imbue people’s days with kindness and joy, he said. 

“I hope kindness is one, and [another is to] be able to actually share that we are humans, because something that’s been getting lost is our values,” said Eddi. “I feel like, even when you just walk towards people and you see them, you should be able to at least say ‘hi.’”

In one of his videos, Eddi stops Luis Tomás Orozco Vaca ’26 on Alexander Walk. Complimenting his jacket, Eddi asks to take his photo, to which Luis Tomás says that he’s “not photogenic.” Luis Tomás poses naturally as Eddi frames his composition.

By the end of the exchange, Eddi asks Luis Tomás: ‘What makes you happy?’ Luis Tomás responds that “good habits” like sleeping eight hours a night contribute to this overall happiness.

Other people have answered “this idea of leaving a legacy”, “spontaneous moments of repose” and “shopping.”

“I take pictures of people, because I want to portray the way I see people through my eyes and showcase them their potential and boost their confidence,” said Eddi.

The music producer-turned-photographer left home, Ibarra, Ecuador, at 15, boarded a flight to the U.S. with his older sister and enrolled at East Haven High School. The two of them arrived in Connecticut alone, without their parents. At the time, Eddi didn’t even know English.  

He described his childhood in Ecuador as marked by political unrest and financial instability. His mother was a singer, and while she was popular locally, she urged him not to pursue the arts. Despite his mother’s wishes, Eddi makes art anyway. Throughout high school, he created tracks and experimented with a wide range of genres, from house music to R&B to pop.

One of his early successes was a collaboration with Angela Davis, a Chicago-based singer-songwriter. Their collaboration was entirely virtual, and he credits his social media presence for providing him with this opportunity.

Later, he contributed music to a short film “Temp” that premiered at Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas in downtown New Haven in 2010.

He encountered photography, which has become his main medium, he said “by mistake.”

At first, it was simply a solution: Eddi needed promotional shots for his music but wasn’t satisfied with the work other photographers produced. So, he bought an iPhone 7 Plus and started taking photos of his own.

“People in the community started noticing,” he says. 

Before long, someone asked if he could take pictures and videos at their daughter’s birthday party. That first project paid $200.

While he’s largely self-taught, Eddi has invested in online courses in marketing and business. He now offers content creation services to businesses.

“Eddi’s the greatest,” said Jerre Adams, a New Haven local, friend and client. “He’s a professional, a hard worker and the photos he took for me were beautiful.” 

Today, Eddi has swapped out his iPhone 7 Plus for a Canon RX. His Instagram account now has over 15,600 followers on Instagram, and he runs a growing freelance business offering portraits, event coverage and branded content.

His projects range from graduation shoots for Yale students to headshots for professionals to projects for the Cambria Hotel in downtown New Haven.

According to Eddi, it’s not the camera that matters, but the composition and the story each photo tells. On campus, many students recognize him from Instagram reels or TikTok videos; his content features spontaneous street portraits and conversations.

“He was super nice, and I think it’s cool how he engages with students and New Haven,” said Constantine Polychronopoulos ’25, founder of Crew Dog, who met Eddi over coffee.

Eddi has found that when he asks people what makes them happy, many aren’t sure how to respond. For some, he said, it’s the first time they’ve ever really considered the question — and that moment of reflection can be meaningful.

Although many assume he’s extroverted, Eddi said that it takes effort to approach strangers. It doesn’t come naturally, said Eddi.  But he continues to draw on values from his upbringing in Ecuador, where greeting others, especially elders, is an act of respect.

For him, a “hello” is a way to acknowledge someone’s presence, a small reminder of our shared humanity.

As for Eddi’s answer to the question, it’s simple. It’s making people around him feel appreciated. 

Eddi’s content can be accessed on social media platforms at @eddimofficial.