I have been interested in photography since I was around five years old and playing around with the family Polaroid, and then later early Kodak Instamatics. As I got older, I moved up to Fuji PinePix point and shoot models and then I worked as a professional portrait photographer for Kmart stores from Florida to Maine as a traveling photographer back before the days of fixed studios in the stores. I really enjoyed shooting with those large capacity 35mm models with the 555 shot film drums and especially loved the looks of joy on parents’ faces when they got back those beautiful and touching images of their toddlers and babies. I’ve always had a way with children, probably because I am a bit of a goofy kid myself at times, doing voice impersonations of cartoon characters and sock puppets.

After high school, I spent 10 years in the U.S. Army, which helped me with attention to detail, which comes in very handy in photography, especially in editorial photography. By the time I finished my military service, I had a family to support, so I started driving tractor trailers and went to college to get my degree in computer science. Upon graduation, I started working as a Network and Systems administrator and then later as an I.T. Manager. After a couple decades in I.T. and mostly doing photography as a hobby and shooting weddings for friends and family, I decided to go back to school and get my degree in photography. I enrolled at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and finished my degree in January of 2015.

As for equipment, I shoot with primarily Canon gear. I currently use a Canon EOS 5Ds R, EOS 6D, an EOS 5D Mark II and a Canon EOS 5D Classic full frame camera systems. For landscapes, I use my Canon EF 17-40mm F/4 L USM lens as it takes fantastic landscapes with vibrant colors. For portrait work I use either the Canon 85mm F/1.4 USM portrait lens or the new Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD lens set at either 85mm or 135mm focal length. When shooting editorial, wildlife (which I do on occasion) or cars, I use a variety of lenses from the Canon EF 24-105mm F/4 L IS USM, the Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD, or the EF 100mm F/2.8 L IS USM Macro, which can be used for Macro or portrait work either one. I have an assortment of other lenses, but won’t bore you to death with the details.

I also have all the necessary gear for shooting portraits both in studio and on location with strobes, continuous lights and Speedlights, umbrellas, softboxes and scrims along with wired and wireless trigger systems to fire all my lighting with. I use professional gear not because I believe the gear makes the photographer, but because when you are a professional, it’s nice to shoot with the best gear.