At the age of ten my mother, a nurturer of art, and creativity let me finish off a roll of film from an old 126 Kodak camera. Pictures of a sunset behind our house in western New York set me on a journey of photography. I began reading what I could find on photography and photographic equipment. I also had an interest in drawing and painting. I went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh on a tour with my parents my sophomore year and was interested in fine art, animation and photography. I ended up choosing photography with the idea that I would be able to also study animation as an elective (which didn’t turn out to be true). We signed up for the program and I knew what I was doing after high school graduation while other friends were figuring things out for the next two years. Fast forward, graduated from the AIP in 1996 and made my way to Seattle via Springfield, Missouri working at Bass Pro Shops shooting tracker boats for the summer. When I made it to Seattle I called every photographer in the phone book, and ended up working with a portrait photographer in Auburn, various temp service jobs, Cameras West, and some freelance work with Jeff at Smith/Walker Design. In January 1997 I started full time at Smith/Walker Design. Jeff supported forwarding my education and offered to get whatever books I would read, so I did. The transition between film and digital was upon us and there was a lot to discover. That is still true today in an ever changing world there are always new things to learn. As anyone with job experience knows you learn more at work then you ever did in college, with real life situations the theoretical becomes factual. What’s next in the evolution of the industry and things to discover, time will tell. To date I’ve had the opportunity to shoot on location, from tugboats to factories, and countless challenges in the studio…there hasn’t been anything that I could not overcome. Photography had a transition from film to digital and now technological advancements put the tools of the film maker in the hands of the still photographer. Starting this career with a desire for an education in animation, I love the transition to video and motion graphics. Although, there is an argument for a college education, the world of information is generously overflowing on the internet, books, and manuals. I encourage everyone I can to seek the “Goodwill Hunting” approach to education and try to make myself available to give back to those who seek my gathered years of experience.

Smith/Walker Design was my work family for a very long time. I still have a good relationship with Jeff, Robin, and the team. Now they have also changed and become part of The YGS Group. I continue to work with them as they have need of photography and video. I am thankful for the wonderful years with them. My changes have brought a new diversity to the clients and agencies I am working with and look forward to new opportunities. 

 Outside of the studio, I enjoy spending time with my wife and 13 year old daughter. I love the beautiful northwest and being outside, usually shooting for my personal art work. I have been playing music with a group of guys every Thursday night for about 17 years, I also spend time in the garage studio we have in Seattle on Tuesday nights, recording and playing bass, guitar, and drums. I played bass in the band Crazy Juice for 6 years and now play guitar on Thursdays, keeping it diverse. Other interests are science, invention, electronics, and guitars. Topics of conversation in the areas of religion, politics, conspiracy, betterment of the human race, and in general anything people want to talk about, I have a honest approach and I am willing to see the different sides of a situation no matter how complex and have an objective opinon (or try).The human race is wonderful in it's diversities.