Meet the Smiles Behind the Confidence Campaign
It’s not every day that your neighbors become your friends—and partners in creating something meaningful for the community. That’s the magic of living in Alexandria. One week you’re running into friends at the farmers market or the library, and the next, you’re sitting together at Hughes Orthodontics while your kids get their braces adjusted.
For me, Hughes Orthodontics has always been more than just a practice, it’s a neighborhood family dedicated to creating beautiful smiles and confidence that shines well beyond the chair. Dr. Hughes, Dr. Justin, and their incredible Smile Squad are simply the best. We’ve been visiting since 2011 (three of our boys have had ortho work!) and they’ve always gone above and beyond—even checking in on us between military moves. That kindness has stayed with us.
Last fall, Dr. Hughes walked into our Hollin Hall studio, took a look around, and said with a grin: “This is wonderful! We’re definitely going to create something together.” And just like that, the brainstorming began. He shared that people are looking for more than straight teeth or a healthy bite, they are looking for confidence. As their mission states "we help people gain confidence through beautiful smiles."
From that spark came The Confidence Campaign, a project designed to celebrate real people, real stories, and real smiles from right here in our community. The Smile Squad gathered an incredible group of people, from all ages and walks of life, to share what confidence means to them. The result? A collection of authentic, joyful smiles that truly light up the room.
Take a peek at our behind-the-scenes moments and some of the final images from this fabulous collaboration. Trust me, you’ll be smiling right along with them!
This project reminded me why I love living and working here. We’re surrounded by people who lift each other up, who celebrate not just smiles, but the confidence and happiness behind them. And when that’s the foundation, the whole community shines brighter.
* Digital Design: People + Practice LLC
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