I come from the stone ages of photography, where you had to wait a week or more for the drugstore to develop your film. The shortcut, of course, was to develop the pictures myself. In the early Seventies my brother and I converted a bathroom to a darkroom. In 1973 I went to the PRA National Challenge drag races intending to get published in Car CraftMagazine; I had to settle for a five-picture spread in Hot Rod Magazine (if you’re keeping score, this means I went pro at 16).
I made my first music video in 1975, six years before MTV. In college I worked for both the yearbook and local newspaper, and was a staff photographer for KMOD FM radio in Tulsa. That led to an on-air position, which became a career for the next 37 years at ABC Radio Networks, Westwood One, Clear Channel and Susquehanna, in markets like Dallas, Los Angeles and San Jose. I always had my camera by my side and captured many celebrity encounters. Along the way I was published in numerous magazines, filmed several music videos, photographed two album covers and even a book cover. In 2009, I had several film clips featured in a live orchestral event scored by Imogen Heap, "Love The Earth", live at the Royal Albert Hall.
In 2014, I left radio to relocate to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to focus on wedding and portrait photography. I am a member of the Professional Photographers Association, through whom I have been named a Certified Professional Photographer.
MY STYLE
I have a journalistic photography style and a keen eye for romantic moments. In key, posed shots I aim for magazine-cover quality. I shoot with available light when possible, studio lights when convenient, and on-camera speedlights when necessary. I am an expert retoucher and do all editing myself (rather than outsourcing the work).
I believe the world needs to return to the printed picture because people aren't passing on USB drives to their children. People deserve better family portraits than the ones shot by their friend with a point and shoot camera. I feel moved to give people heirloom art for future generations, so that a hundred years from now people can still access and love these memories.
You never appreciate photographs until it's all you have left.
