The Journey
I picked up my first serious camera at twenty-three, a battered Canon AE-1 that belonged to my grandfather. That camera changed everything. Within six months I was shooting my first paid wedding, nervous as hell but absolutely certain this was what I was meant to do with my life. Fifteen years and several camera bodies later, that certainty has only grown stronger.
My work spans the full spectrum of photography: intimate portrait sessions, grand wedding celebrations, untouched wilderness, and controlled studio environments. Each discipline teaches something different. Portrait work hones your ability to read people, to find the moment when a subject forgets the camera exists. Wedding photography demands anticipating the unexpected, being in the right place at the right time, and always having a backup plan. Nature photography teaches patience like nothing else—you wait, you observe, and occasionally the light does exactly what you hoped it would do.
Philosophy
I believe photography is fundamentally about light, but it's also about trust. The best images happen when there's a genuine connection between photographer and subject. I spend as much time talking and listening as I do behind the lens. That approach has served me well across every genre I work in.
Technically, I'm a perfectionist. I believe in knowing your equipment so thoroughly that it becomes an extension of your vision rather than a barrier to it. But I also believe that rigid technical adherence can kill spontaneity. The most powerful images often come from the moments you didn't plan.
Recognition & Exhibitions
My work has been featured in galleries across the Pacific Northwest and California, with solo exhibitions at the Portland Art Center and group shows in San Francisco and Seattle. I was honored to receive the Northwest Photography Award in 2019 and have contributed images to several published books on Pacific Northwest landscapes.