It all started with the photography program at Westminster High School. I caught the bug, and proceeded through the Professional Photography program at Colorado Mountain College. After graduating, my (very understanding) new wife, Julie, and I picked up everything and moved to New York so I could take a job as a Studio Manager for a commercial photographer. After four years of working on lots of exciting shoots and meeting lots of great people, we decided it was time to move home and start thinking about starting a family. Shortly after returning, I began learning web design and looking for jobs where I could apply my knowledge in both photography and web technology. Before long, I was working for a large corporation, managing all of the images for their website. This role evolved to the point where I became the corporate photographer – shooting products, catalog covers, marketing pieces, events, executive portraits, etc. This position provided experience in a broad range of photographic specialties, and also provided the stability that we needed to start our family. We now have two beautiful daughters, Emma-6 & Molly-3, and a great life in Colorado.
Of course, the economy finally caught up with my employer, and we were purchased by an even larger corporation. This effectively ended my role as corporate photographer and over 18 months I helped the new corporation take over all of my imaging responsibilities.
This put me in the strange position of being sad to leave a great company and great co-workers, but excited to get back to photography full-time.
So that is where I am now… Excited to be working with real people, documenting real moments, creating images that will be appreciated for generations to come.
As part of this change in direction, I have also decided to make a change in methodology. I am moving away from digital cameras and controlled studio lighting, and back to film and available light.
Why Film?
- First reason is simply because of the look. Film is beautiful, skin tones always look smooth and natural, and grain looks like grain – not noise. Film captures the brightest highlights and the darkest shadows – at the same time. With digital, you have to choose one or the other.
- Second reason is your grandchildren. With digital, you have a bunch of ones and zeros on a magnetic disk. With film, there is a piece of film that will be “readable” for, easily, the next 100 years. When you are shooting a model for next month’s cover, longevity isn’t really an issue. But when you are capturing a family’s history, longevity is the only issue.
- Finally, it is the way of working. Many digital photographers believe that if I don’t have that little screen on the back of my camera, I don’t know what I’ve got. I believe that if they are studying the back of their camera, They don’t know what they just missed. Having fewer distractions allows me to focus on the moments as they unfold.