The author shared his passion for the project with Bored Panda: "What I love most about this photography project is that it forces me to face my fears and approach people I don’t know. It forces me to challenge whatever preconceptions I have of them and learn again and again how inaccurate my assumptions are. Most of all, at this time of division, 'so I asked them to smile' stands as a profound and loving reminder of how much we all truly have in common."

The diverse range of smiles that Jay brings is truly fascinating. From kids to the elderly, from east to west, and many different countries and cultures in between. The author seemingly scoured the globe to get as many unique smiles as he did. The diverse range of smiles that Jay brings is truly fascinating. From kids to the elderly, from east to west, and many different countries and cultures in-between. The author seemingly scoured the globe to get as much unique smiles as he did. He has started in 2013, and has been doing it for 7 years now. "I have spent most of my life, and much of most years, in India. I lead small group tours, photograph and explore this stunningly beautiful, complex, and multifaceted culture. Thus most of my images are from India. I have also brought this project to China, Singapore, Australia, Kenya, and Nepal. The dream is to one day take 'so I asked them to smile' to every country on earth. Let’s see what my time, finances, and the post-COVID-19 world look like!"

When asked about his favorite trip and who smiled the most, Jay was equally generous to each and every one of the places that he's been in: "That is a truly impossible question to answer! What is truly memorable for me is how sweet, kind, and friendly 99% of the people I meet are, in every country I visit, once I make the effort of talking to them. [In terms of who smiles the most] If forced to guess an answer, I would say India. I would also add that almost everyone I have approached, in every country, has smiled easily and with so much joy that it humbles me to share in that moment."

The author adds a little extra in his Instagram stories as he embeds them with a story of how he got the photo, what those people were like, where they were taken. Some say the eyes are the mirror of one's soul, and while we agree, a smile reflects the beauty of one's soul just as well. Make sure you check them out on his Instagram page because it's a great charge of positive energy for the entire day.

The author wrapped it up beautifully himself, saying that "The project has no overt message to convey, though it has plenty to say. What I hear from 'so i asked them to smile' is that we all have far more in common than we are told. I see a simple human smile speaking through whatever barriers class, economic status, ethnicity, sex, religion, or geographic location create."

And with this, we leave you to enjoy some beautiful smiles from beautiful people from far and wide. Smile more—it may not only change someone's day, but their entire outlook towards life. Show your support for this wholesome message by following the Instagram page! What about you? How do these images inspire you? Share in the comments!