A professional photographer since 2009, I have tried it all - from adventures and documenting, to weddings and engagements, to catering and events...
to portraiture, groups, studio, action, landscapes, food, menus, pets, advertisements...
Weddings are a blast - you get to shoot lots of love, beautiful things in beautiful settings, capture shots of amazing food, and laugh and cry with people as if you've known them forever. And the best wedding photographers usually become close friends with their clients! (check out my friend @ivybencheckportraits as an awesome source.) If you want me, let's talk!
Portraiture? Just bring a few different costume changes and let's go for a walk. Downtown, along the river, in the trees, with your dog. We can go as far as you want to go. (Though, I usually keep it to under an hour.. we get plently of shots by then.)
Events are always a great resource to create content for Social Media. Whatever is captured can't help but be promotional kindling to add to the fire of your feed.
Though I still love to do all these things (so if you like what you see, just ask..), I felt lost in my direction.
The biggest photography advice I ever received was from a Photo Instructor at National Geographic. She said, "You've got a great portfolio. But, what should I hire you for?" She then recommended I narrow my offerings to just 2-3 things.
So, I landed on travel photography and full-circle, it reignited my passion for photojournalism.
In my final term of college, even though I had barely touched a camera, I signed up for a 400 level Photojournalism course. I put together a print portfolio of my recent pictures and convinced the professor to let me in.
My most significant lesson taken from the class wasn't the so much the tech stuff (that came with practice). It was consideration of my subject, camera etiquette, subtlety and grace, respect for the moment, patience and timing. I became increasingly interested and respectful of the people and the world around me.
I wanted to capture the good stuff.
After college, I fell into events, weddings and portraiture, which was fun and I met many cool people of all ages. I also had a tutor who was 'Taylor Swift's first ever Portrait Photographer'. He showed me his own studio, told me how he got started and what it took to maintain, and how he discovered his niche - he loved lighting! While training under him for a month, I learned quite a lot about studio photography, but to be frank - I like to be outside.
I've also done a summer gig as an infant photographer using a lot of equipment - a backdrop, cushion, lugging a giant camera case into people's homes with tripod, flashes and more. That same summer, I shot fan photos for the Cardinals baseball team, where I got really good at managing group shots and being quick on the trigger.
But, let's face it, sales isn't my thing, guys. I'm here for the production.
So, I moved to Colorado. My family has spent our summer and winter vacations out here since I was young - a true Colorado camp kid. Horseback riding in rodeos, peaking 14,000ft peaks every year, rafting down the Arkansas River, rock climbing giant crevices and boulders... canoeing, getting dirty, learning how to use a trowel, light a fire, really roast a marshmallow... that kind of thing. You know, being disconnected, yet connected to it all.
I took a gig as the Camp Photograph for awhile, because it was the best job I ever had... but even though it wasn't my forever job, I'll always be grateful it brought me back out to the mountains.
Now, 7 years later, I've evolved.
And I'm curious!
What's your story?
What are you wanting to promote?
To share?
To manifest?
I would love to Capture the Essence of your vision.
