I recently had the opportunity to photograph Alex Smith on an advertorial campaign for a major pharmaceuticals company. You may remember Alex as the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback whose career and life was forever changed by a devastating leg injury. What began as a routine tackle during a game in 2018 quickly spiraled into something far more serious: a complete fracture of his tibia and fibula that nearly took his leg, and at one point, threatened his life.

Alex would go on to endure 17 surgeries over the course of nine months. He battled sepsis, he faced the very real possibility of amputation. And yet, through extraordinary determination, medical innovation, and an unwavering support system, he not only kept his leg but returned to the NFL in what has to be one of the most miraculous comebacks in sports history.

Photographing Alex wasn’t just about capturing a portrait of a former quarterback. It was about honoring the depth of his pain story and the resilience that brought him through it. The two days I spent with him were intimate, thoughtful, and deeply human. Empathy was my compass. It allowed me to create imagery that reflects not just the physical scars, but the emotional terrain he’s traveled.

And that journey didn’t end with his return to the field. In 2022, Alex and his family faced another unimaginable challenge: the discovery of a brain tumor in their young daughter, Sloane. Once again, life tested the strength of his spirit. But Alex and his wife, Liz, met it with the same grace, courage, and perseverance that carried them through his injury. Watching them together, present, grounded, and fiercely committed to their family, was humbling.

One of the most moving details I learned during our time together was that Liz had a trophy made from the titanium implant that had been inside Alex’s leg (photo below). It now sits in their home, not as a symbol of pain, but of survival and growth. A physical reminder of how far he’s come, not just as an athlete, but as a partner, father, and human being.

Below are some of my personal selects from the shoot.