About Me
I approach photography from a painter's perspective.
A painter can create almost any environment they imagine, provided they have the materials. Photography is different. We have relatively little control over the world in front of us, regardless of the equipment at our disposal. Light, weather, terrain, timing, and circumstance all present their own limitations.
My approach is rooted in resourcefulness: finding ways to work with those limitations, overcome them, or even turn them into advantages. I believe photographs are made, not simply taken. The camera is just one part of that process.
I'm from the Pacific Northwest, having lived in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Photography runs deep on both sides of my family, and my own journey began with film and darkrooms more than fifteen years ago. Over the years, my interests have taken me in just about every direction, from landscapes and astrophotography to wildlife, street photography, and the people and places in between. I've never felt particularly compelled to settle into one genre.
Before pursuing photography professionally, I spent much of my adult life as a chef, primarily in high-end catering. It was a career full of remarkable people, places, food, and experiences. Working in professional kitchens is, without question, the hardest thing I've ever done. It also taught me some of my most valuable lessons about discipline, adaptability, discernment, and the importance of doing things with intention.
In the spring of 2026, I hung up my apron to pursue photography. I loved much of what cooking gave me, but I eventually realized the stories I wanted to tell weren't ones I could tell from behind a stove.
That experience continues to shape how I see the world. The patience to wait for the right moment, the resourcefulness to make something out of difficult circumstances, and the attention to detail needed to bring an idea to life are just as valuable behind a camera as they were in a kitchen.
Ultimately, I don't believe a photographer needs to be defined by what they photograph. What matters to me is how they see it.
I want to make photographs that stand apart, not simply because of what's in front of the lens, but because of what I bring to it.