Where I’m At.

After all the training and work—professional and personal—I finally feel like my photographic style is channeling from my heart. It 's happening so organically and instinctually that I don’t even know how to perceive and receive it.

Most of my previous employment was nothing but rules, recipes, and structure—and heartache. I’ve struggled with workplace dynamics and constant self doubt. I’ve tried to make things right in situations that would never be. I’d constantly attempt to please everyone and ultimately, please absolutely no one. I had taken more on than I had the ability to complete until failure was the only option—at the cost of my physical and mental health.

I’m just done with those confines.
I’m not willing to fight those fights anymore.

I’m in the process of redefining those structures into a foundation where I just create on the fly and react. Less about preparation and perfection, but more about creating freely, openly, collaboratively, and instinctually.

For years, I’ve used this phrase:

‘Who you are. As you are.’

I’m about creating an environment and experience where people can feel safe and free to feel who they truly are. Less about editing and technology and more about humanity and authenticity. With every session, I feel that I am closer to providing this for my clients, and I think my work is reflecting that passion.

It’s not just all in my head, either. The feedback from my clients has been reinforcing this ideal. Hearing that my passion for my process is palpable and contagious. It’s ringing true that I can produce something uniquely mine, within the experience that we create together.

I’m a pretty emotional guy on the inside, but this journey has pushed a lot of that to the surface and has unlocked a few things for me. I just feel differently about a lot of things and I’m ceasing to care about non-constructive opinions than I did in the past.

I appreciate smaller things more deeply.

I’m more mindful of my mortality.

I live more in the moment.

I take more time to appreciate all the beauty around me.

I appreciate my mentors, contemporaries, other creatives, and members of my photo family more.

I treasure the idea that I can mentor those who may benefit from these lessons learned along the way.

This community we’ve created is everything to me.

Simply put, I’m in a better place as a human.
All I needed to do was let go of the rope.