At the age of 18, I started my first real job at Hanna Barbera Studio in Hollywood, CA. The home of Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear and the Smurfs. I worked there for over a decade and that helped form my view of the world I see today.
At 30 I decided to study photography. It was magical to find a true creative outlet where I could express myself visually. I was hooked. For the next 3 years I studied photo journalism. It was time to go pro with my photography so I applied for an internship with the Los Angeles Times. I was fortunate to consult with a staff photographer at the Times (who went on to be Vice President Dick Cheney's photographer). From him, I discovered that the real world of photo journalism was probably not for me, being that many times 90% of the job was capturing bad situations and only 10% good. So I thought, how can I do the 10% good stuff 100% of the time? Portraits were the answer.
So at 33, I started my studio. Three years later I was one of the busiest headshot photographers in Los Angeles. By the end of 2004, after shooting over 20,000 clients, I felt the need to expand my photo studio to include the New York City Photography Market. My vast experience in L.A. has allowed me to realize how to capture anybody in a relaxed and natural way. Respect and teamwork are the keys to success.
Shooting still life or landscapes does not interest me. Photographing people is all I do. Creating images of people is truly rewarding in a way that I can't find anywhere else. Check out my headshot photography blog to learn more about my current photography projects.
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