Secret Smile
Artist: Semisonic
Song: Secret Smile
Album: Feeling strangely fine
Model: Jade Lyon
Location: Chippenham, Wiltshire UK

I like to think that everyone in the world has shared this moment with someone. I want to believe all of us knows what it’s like, how it feels inside and the pure, simple pleasure it brings. As the song tells us, it’s also free, costs nothing and yet is one of the most special gifts you can receive.

The idea inspired me so much I co-wrote a song with a friend about that time when you catch someone’s eye in a crowded room and you know. You may not have met them before but you just somehow know that together you could be something together. Often it never gets taken any further or acted upon. It’s rare but it happens.

This happened the first time I clapped eyes on my now lovely wife. I knew. I walked past her and I knew. In fact, we often embarrassingly giggle about our second date when I creepily launched into a monologue about how we’ll live our lives together. It’s become known as the “All Bar One incident” after the bar we were in at the time! Excruciating but funny all the same and as I like to remind her, I was right, down to the last detail!

With the image, I wanted to imply that the ‘smile’ can happen anywhere and at any time. A social gathering, round a mate’s house, at a party, in a pub, anywhere. It can be anyone, one you love, one you wished loved you or a total stranger. That secret smile. Mmmm… Maybe we just like to think it’s a secret smile reserved only for us?