I was born in 1982 in Houston, Texas. Like most people from my generation, my first experiences with photography were with 35mm film. Disposable cameras (the idea of which now makes me cringe with ecological regret), consumer-grade films like Kodak Gold, and mostly the anticipation of waiting to see what my photos would look like when they came back from the lab. Without any notion of “taking it seriously”, photography brought me a joy from the very beginning. This was a joy that I found was special in that it was transferable to others - especially when it came to travel photography.
In my early 20s, I purchased my first entry-level single lens reflex (“SLR”) camera, along with two lenses and a few books on exposure technique, composition, etc. At university, I was studying Acting & Directing at the time, although I would later change for a Business Administration degree, with a second degree in French Language & Literature, as the voice of “reason” superseded the expressive voice of my inner child. So it goes.
In 2004, I bought my first digital camera prior to a two-month trip to Europe. Digital cameras at this point were mostly about the convenience of being able to see your photos instantly and not having to wait or pay to have them developed. But they were still relatively expensive for the image quality compared to film. Furthermore, the digital images were most likely destined to be printed, as the Internet of 2004 was nothing like what it is today. Social Media was just an embryo of an idea and connection speeds were too slow to share much, anyway. Of course, like with any technology, things would quickly change. More on that in a future blog post…
Fast-forward to 2019, I had moved to San Francisco, worked in big tech companies, met a French-American woman, moved to France, and worked a bit more in tech. All the while, feeling like I was living someone else’s life, professionally. I honestly enjoyed the work I did in tech and am proud of the things I accomplished, but I didn’t feel like I was where I needed to be. So in 2019, I decided to take a hiatus and decide what would be next. I would allow myself to entertain even the most absurd possibilities in an effort to reconnect with the voice of my inner child. I considered many things, including starting a bicycle touring business in the Loire Valley, where I now live.
In February 2020, my (now former) wife and I took a trip to Morocco. To this day, this is the trip that has had the most impact on my life. I had never been to a country so different from what I knew. Different languages, customs, landscapes, foods, smells, peoples, cultures. I was entranced. It was this stimulation that catalyzed my decision to become a photographer, and finally “take it seriously”. Sure, it is a notoriously difficult way to make a living, rife with stereotypes of pretentious, yet starving artists. But I’ve always done things differently. I knew I could do it because I knew I was prepared to work harder than most people are willing to.
Some of the photos I took in Morocco, 2020.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns in France, I began my self-taught curriculum of photography essentials, with a focus on lighting. I shot items around the house, trying to create a portfolio with which to attract my first clients. In the cloud of uncertainty that dominated 2020, my reasoning was that specializing in product photography would be the most viable inroad, as more and more commerce moved to online sales channels.
Some photos I took during and in between lockdowns in 2020, attempting to build a starter portfolio.
By autumn of 2020, I had enough product and portrait images to put online, which I did. Soon enough, clients began to contact me. I had my first paid commercial shoot in September 2020, and my 100th less than two years later. I did portraits, products, real estate, events, weddings, and culinary photography. I was even hired to teach in-house product photographers, and as a consultant to build a photo studio. I was a generalist - if for no other reason than I had to be to gain the experience and to learn what I wanted to specialize in.
Over this time, I learned by process of elimination that I am above all a “people photographer”. This is what brings me the most joy, but also seems to bring my clients the most joy as well. I go to bed every night excited about the things I get to do the next day for my work, whether they be professional commissions or personal artistic projects. I am where I need to be and am thankful to everyone around me who has supported and encouraged me to get here.
The next steps for me will be around communicating, sharing, educating, and building a community around this passion. If you’re interested in learning more about me or my subjects of interest, head over to my blog!
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