The Social Media Project
2011 – 2021
Between 2011 and 2021, Dekker contacted strangers he had never met through social media — a tattooed bodybuilder with a passion for accordion, a young painter living in a derelict factory — and asked to photograph them in their own homes. No preparation, no research, no plan. He got on a plane, knocked on the door, and worked with whatever and whoever he found.
The sessions lasted an hour, sometimes less. What happened in front of the camera was simply what happened — shaped by the energy of two strangers meeting for the first time, with all the awkwardness, openness and occasional magic that brings.
Looking back, the project documents something that no longer quite exists: a moment when social media made contact between strangers feel easy, natural and full of possibility. The people Dekker encountered were unapologetically themselves — no interest in being normalised, no need for validation. They wore their individuality without thinking twice.
Dekker could still send that message today. But something has shifted. People present themselves more carefully now, more strategically — and sometimes barely at all, hiding behind images and personas that owe more to algorithms than to lived experience. In an era where even identity can be generated, the spontaneous, unguarded openness he encountered then feels harder to find.
Anastasia - Moscow, RU
Anastasia - Moscow, RU
Anastasia started as a successful figure skater, champion of Moscow, with every door wide open. But when puberty hit and her breasts started to grow, her coach gave her two options: stop skating or take hormone blockers. She chose the latter, but the medication had a counterproductive effect that could not be reversed. It didn't stop her. Anastasia is now a coach, a role model, and a source of positive energy for the next generation of champions. Something this ice-cold skating scene desperately needs.
Samia - New York City, US
Samia - New York City, US
When Samia opened the door, her energy and smile were impossible to miss. Born in Sudan during a time of war, she and her sister learned early to rely on themselves, moving through several conflict-ridden countries before finding a way to America. That newfound freedom gave her the space to start a successful modeling career, and it shows in every frame. Her positivity was contagious and made this one of the more fun shoots of the entire project.
Sascha - Moscow, RU
Sascha - Moscow, RU
It's easy to have preconceptions based on looks, and Sascha's case was a particular challenge: botox lips, a pumped-up body, 200 hours of tattoos by one artist, and a feminine style of clothing. Yet at his apartment I found little eccentricity — just a man living a regular life with his wife Masya, their dogs Ricci and Jason, and a simple philosophy: why can women make themselves beautiful, but men cannot? Despite his masculine build, going out alone in Russia isn't always safe. He doesn't do it for the fame. He just wants to make people happy.
Natalia - Moscow, RU
Natalia - Moscow, RU
12:45 PMNatalia was the first person I contacted for my trip to Moscow, and her reply was instant: "This is exactly what I need!" I traveled to her studio in an abandoned military plant north of the city, where she opened the door beaming. While rearranging her paintings for the shoot, she told me she had always been the odd one out: in her family, in school, in the art world. With hardly any commercial galleries in Moscow, being a young artist is especially hard. But nothing stops her. With no money for materials she paints on whatever she can find: packaging, wood, found canvas. She sometimes even sleeps in the complex to save on rent. Her dedication was infectious, and I followed her through the building like a puppy in love. Before I left, she made a self-portrait. It's now in my collection.
Tess & Ian - London, UK
Tess & Ian - London, UK
At the vernissage of my exhibition in London, I spotted a yellow Rolls-Royce parked outside, hand-painted with a red flower pattern. Its owner Ian was hard to miss. I asked if I could photograph the car, and that same evening I met Tess at the opening. When I told her about it, she was immediately in. The next day we visited Ian at his canal boat. Mid-conversation I asked if he had something for Tess to wear, and he pulled a green bodysuit out of nowhere.
