I first picked up a camera in the late-80’s. I was in my late-teens and just got what I thought was the best job in the world: photographer for

a small recording studio in Florida. I was taking promotional photos of bands while they played shows around the area. If I couldn’t be in the band, being a rock band photographer was the next best thing.

I didn’t get paid much of anything but it was a blast. I was told that I needed to get a real job or I needed to go to school to get a degree. I finally gave in and gave up being a photographer.

I ended up doing well. I got a “real” job, worked hard, got promoted, and ended up starting my own company. One day I bought my wife a telescope for her birthday and we had a great time with it. While looking at planets, I thought it would be cool to get a photo of these. I bought a small DSLR camera and started astrophotography.

After several telescopes and a few more cameras I was hooked. While my wife was brushing up on her sign language skills at DeafConnect, I noticed they need some better images for their social media and the interpreters needed updated head shot photos, so I volunteered. Later on I was asked if I could photograph an event for another non-profit after their photographer skipped out on them at the last minute. I agreed to and now I’ve come full circle back to photography.