I love movies! And I love the art of stunning images! The ‘70’s and ‘80’s is when it all started for me; believe it or not, I fully recall going to the movie theater and seeing “Star Wars” in 1977 at three years old, and ever since that awesome experience I’ve carried the emotional influence its had on me as one of his sources of inspiration. But, this was just the beginning…

Fast forward to 1993. I was walking in downtown Chicago with my parents when we turned a corner and walked down to the Chicago Board of Trade building, only to accidentally wander onto a film set where the Cohen Brothers were filming, “The Hudsucker Proxy.” What an awesome sight it was to see the hustle & bustle of Hollywood in action right in front of me! I didn’t get to meet anyone in particular, but I was awestruck by the enormity of the production. Years later, I learned that one of my all-time favorite cinematographers, Roger Deakins, was the DP for that movie. Serendipity, it would seem, was just a few footsteps away.

Despite these experiences, I sadly did not get to work in film or as a photographer; the opportunities just weren’t as available in my “younger years” as they are now. Instead, I ended up working odd jobs while studying to become a pharmacist. I graduated from Purdue University School of Pharmacy in 2004. Through the passion of helping people, I gained an immense value from that career that became paramount to building my integrity as a professional. Eventually, though, I revisited the idea of getting involved in camerawork as hobbies in making short films and shooting a variety of photographs. Luckily, the fun I was having would become something more passionate.

I got involved as a filmmaker in several indie short films and documentary projects, wearing several of the proverbial hats across all phases of production: producer, director, cinematographer, camera operator, photographer, boom operator, and post production editing in color grading and sound design, just to name a few positions. Ultimately, I felt a stronger calling toward cinematography, as I feel a far more profound connection to creating story and emotion through imagery. This, of course, led to doing as many photo shoots as I could: headshots, landscape, events…the list goes on! Photography, to me, is amazing, especially when you can capture candid moments of people who are living their best times without having to stop and say, “cheese,” to the camera.

I have grown in my camera work through countless projects, networking, and even mentoring. I am currently a photography member of the Professional Photographers of America as well as a student of cinematography in Shane Hurlbut’s Filmmakers Academy. My “pie in the sky” goal would be to gain recognition by the American Society of Cinematographers and become a member. Other goals that I am currently working toward are gaining certification as a professional photographer through the Professional Photographers as America, opening a production studio where I and other creatives can hone our crafts, and to teach/mentor persons who are interested in doing camera work.