ExperienceAs a second generation photographer, I purchased my own Pentax Spotmatic some 20 plus years ago. Thus, I cut my teeth in the days of film. Because there were costs associated with developing and printing every picture taken with film (even when we had our own darkrooms), we quickly learned to pay attention to every detail. Additionally, we didn’t have Photoshop to edit and improve photos. What you shot was what you got. (We could do some retouching but it was tedious work). Many of the photographers that have only worked with digital rely too heavily on post production (Photoshop) to compensate for mediocre work. Those that worked with film have a distinct advantage over those who have only worked in digital mediums. It has been ingrained in us to create the perfect shot the first time, so what we shoot can stand on its own. We may still use Photoshop to improve already good photos, but we do not rely on Photoshop to provide a quality product. CreativityCreativity is about seeing things differently, seeing the unique elements and factors that others overlook. It is about refusing to conform to conventional methods and practices. One could say my creativity started when I began speaking. It was then I began to question everything. Rarely was I satisfied with other peoples reasoning and ideas, so I would come up with my own concepts. It is this ability to assemble new ideas with the elements others over look or take for granted that is the essence of my creativity. Connecting with my subject and conveying emotionEvery client or model has a certain persona they wish to have captured in a photograph. Yet many photographers fail to take the time to understand and encourage that persona to come out. My keen ability to quickly build rapport and connect with people I photograph, gives me insights that assist in providing the type of individual depth each client desires in their finished product. When my subjects allow their guard to come down and feel comfortable, they begin to project the natural emotion they wish to have recorded. A simple example of this is telling a child to smile vs. doing something that makes him smile naturally on his own. The end result is night and day different.







