THE WHY
After getting my Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona (go Broncos!), I worked in one of the largest architecture firms in the US. I was making a great living, bought our first house, and things were looking great. However, my life became all about excel spread sheets writing reports. I still remember the day when I was working on yet another excel spreadsheet, and I told myself, “I’m not doing this for the next 30 years of my life.” I knew something needed to change. I decided to buy my first DSLR camera just to give it a try! I started off by taking photos of my daughters, and became OBSESSED with photography. I loved everything about it. The ability to create art and connect with my subjects was fascinating to me. It gave me the creative outlet that I needed. A decade and 300+ weddings later, now as they say, the rest is history. I consider it an honor to be entrusted with the task of documenting some of the most important days of my clients’ lives, and I can’t wait to document yours!
FOUND my calling in 2009
I didn’t grow up with a camera in my hands. In fact, I wasn’t even interested in photography until later in life. In 2009, I purchased my first DSLR camera. I remember I bought it at Target, a little Canon Rebel Ti digital camera. I bought it because a family member was having a small backyard wedding, and they wanted some extra photos taken since they didn’t hire a professional photographer. So they asked me if I could help. Unbeknownst to anybody, that request sparked a life altering event. 15 years and 300+ weddings later, I am proud to be still doing what I love for a living. Documenting my clients’ love stories throughout the world.
THE NEXT STEP
Over the course of last 15 years, my camera has taken me all over the world. From Thailand to Yucatan Mexico, my clients have trusted me to document one of the biggest days of their lives. This is not a privilege I take lightly, and one that I am eternally grateful.
FOR THE LOVE OF FILM
Being a film photographer, I love the ethereal feeling a film image provokes. Film has made me a better photographer and really forces me to conceptualize an image before shutter is clicked. It offers my clients timeless imagery of their wedding that’s hard to duplicate. However when digital cameras are more suited for the task at hand, I am also able to transition seamlessly between both digital & film, so my clients get the best of both worlds.
SHARING IS MY PASSION
Starting in 2013, I also started offering workshops to upcoming photographers who want to dive deeper into the business & artistic sides of photography. I have taught workshops in Taiwan, Italy, France, England, and all over United States. So where do I see myself 10 years from now? Hopefully continue doing what I am passionate about; creating genuine tangible memories for my clients to look back on for generations to come.
THE INSPIRATION
As an ardent student of architecture and the arts, I find myself perpetually drawn to the intricate dialogue between built spaces and classical artistry. The constructed environment serves as more than mere backdrop – it fundamentally shapes our perception of reality, acting as both canvas and muse. By meticulously studying how light interacts with form, particularly the interplay of illumination and shadow, I strive to create compositions that transcend conventional photography and speak to deeper architectural truths.
My greatest inspiration comes from the legendary photographer Julius Shulman, whose revolutionary architectural photography transformed how we view modernist design. His iconic images of Case Study Houses floating above Los Angeles at twilight didn’t just document buildings – they captured the very essence of mid-century optimism and innovation. This mastery of architectural storytelling continues to influence my work today.
In the contemporary realm, I find myself constantly returning to the brilliant work of Rodney Smith. His photographs are visual poems where architecture becomes a stage for surrealist narratives. Smith’s genius lies in his ability to inject unexpected whimsy into formally composed scenes, creating images that are simultaneously precise and playful, sophisticated and surprising.
The Renaissance masters have also profoundly shaped my photographic vision. Their masterful command of single-source lighting – a technique that appears deceptively simple – creates an almost theatrical drama in their paintings. This controlled illumination does more than reveal form; it imbues their works with psychological depth and emotional resonance. What particularly draws me to Renaissance art is its layered nature: while technically precise, these works maintain an essential ambiguity that invites viewers to engage in their own dialogue with the piece, discovering personal meaning within the artist’s framework. This delicate balance between technical precision and interpretive openness is something I constantly strive to achieve in my own work.
the PUBLICATIONS
Select Online Blogs
– Style Me Pretty
– Martha Stewart
– Wedding Wire
– New York Times
– Wedding Chicks
– Carats & Cake
– Magnolia Rouge
– Once Wed
– Grace Ormond
– Aisle Style