As a student in elementary school, I was chosen to be part of the upward bound program that allowed elementary and middle school students with above average scores to take advanced classes. Every summer this program put on a week long course at a local college that had individual classes specializing in different career fields. One of the classes focused on photography. As part of the class, students were given a 35mm camera and instructed to take photos in 5 different categories for a photo contest. The film would be developed and the students could choose the photos they wanted to submit into the contest. I chose my images and won three of the five categories. I was hooked. I started taking photos with a 35mm camera anywhere I went. I started learning what looked good and what didn't by trial and error.
Fast forward to the 2010 era and digital photography had become the go to. I had used point and shoot cameras, but most did not have the quality I desired. In 2016 I made the investment into entry level DSLR Nikon gear. My passion for photography was rekindled. I had been floating around working with musicians and wanted to start documenting artists. Artists liked the way I made them look and I got asked to photograph more live acts. Concert and event photography become a natural go to.
In the fall of 2016 I was asked to photograph for SET Magazine in Florence, AL. My photography stood out enough that I was asked to photograph "Sloss Fest" in Birmingham, AL. Sloss Fest turned into photographing "Live On The Green" in Nashville, TN which then lead to freelance work in Nashville. This freelance work allowed me to photograph the Global Songwriters Connection Awards Gala at the CMT Building on Music Row.
I became the in-house photographer for the Shoals Theatre after photographing Billy Bob Thornton in April of 2017. My photos from the Shoals Theatre then lead to me getting hired as the photographer for the live music series "Muscle Shoals To Music Row" that airs on Alabama Public Television in February of 2018.
Although I mostly photograph artists, I still love to photograph people and everyday life. I have done craft fairs, street performers, birthday parties, weddings, family photos, head shots for portfolios, product photography, real estate photography, and more. I am always learning and attempting to push myself to be more creative.
