How It Started

When I was a kid, my fascination with bird watching naturally led me to photography. I wanted to capture and share the amazing moments I experienced with those feathered creatures. My dad graciously let me use the family Minolta, which had an awesome built-in zoom lens. Every week, I started snapping pictures of birds, and my love for photography soared…like an eagle….so dumb.

To fuel my passion, I delved into photography magazines, scoured books at Barnes & Noble, and stalked “famous” photographers online. As a youngster, I even managed to win first place in a Birder’s World Magazine photo contest! The prize? My first pair of high-end binoculars—talk about a sweet victory!

Birds Are Boring

Ok its not true, I still love birds and birdwatching with my two little girls. From birds, my photography journey expanded to landscapes, portraits, and even studio work during high school. I continued my education by taking classes at local colleges. It was during this time that I fell head over heels for Photoshop. I’m 35, so not that old but even when I started photography it was analog. Photoshop opened a whole new world. I wanted to unlock its full potential and set my photography apart from the rest. Eventually, I pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a specialization in photography from CSU Chico.

Why Don’t My Pictures Look Like That?

Throughout my photographic evolution, I’ve always been intrigued by other artists’ work. I’d dissect their techniques, wondering how Joey L. mastered lighting or how Annie Leibovitz created captivating color palettes. I marveled at Joel Grimes’ three-dimensional shots and questioned if Gregory Crewdson photoshopped every detail. And how in the world did Dave Hill achieve razor-sharp and pristine photos simultaneously? I grew up around a lot of music too. I was a Tooth and Nail and Solid State kid. IYKYK. The intersection between photography and music was album artwork for me. I LOVED it and I couldn’t get enough. There was a studio in Seattle called Asterik Studio that did the most incredible album artwork. My sister, who is also a photographer and artist, and I would try to recreate what Asterik was doing…nailed it…never. But it was fun. Asterik was started by 2 brothers that are also in an great metal band, Demon Hunter. Look up their story, its pretty great.

Curiosity Needs to Kill More Cats

Calm down, I’m kidding. But there were a lot of stray cats at the community college here…My curiosity propelled me on a quest to learn everything I could about Photoshop, color, editing, lighting, and more. I realized many photographers embark on a similar journey, brimming with questions and not sure where to turn. In today’s expansive online realm, some answers are easily accessible, while others remain elusive. During college, I had the opportunity to showcase my work in solo and group exhibitions, photograph portraits for anyone interested, sell a few fine art prints, and even start my own wedding photography business. It was a valuable learning experience but not all super exciting. I shot Bigfoot Merch…yes the yeti. I shot product photos for a sports recovery clothing company which to this day is one of my favorite projects with a great friend. I’m very proud of the work. I shot the album covers for the bands I was in and I still love working with musicians. Before I was old and had no metabolism, I’d head to the bookstore on campus between classes, get a Mountain Dew or Monster and a dark chocolate Milky Way (my brothers combo) and grab the newest Alternative Press Magazine and look at all of the band photoshoots. Those were the days. I was learning a lot.

Thats How I Got Famous…hahaha

Now, let’s be real—I didn’t become the next Joey L., shooting my favorite bands and working for Disney by the time I turned 18. But my passion for photography persisted, and it still burns brightly today. Many people enter the world of photography envisioning a path to endless wealth while shooting whatever they desire. While that dream may come true for some, I believe there are numerous creative avenues and careers where we can channel our artistic energy while having day jobs. We can create exceptional work and nurture our photography passion simultaneously.

The Work of the Dead

While in high school, I landed a local gig retouching photos in Photoshop. Memorial portraits for tombstones, if you can believe it! Well, let me tell you, I reveled in the opportunity to Photoshop all day and get paid for it. I didn’t think this would be a long term gig but I was one a few people in college getting payed to Photoshop. I started at the bottom as a retouching newbie but quickly honed my skills, learning from colleagues and continuously seeking knowledge outside of work and school. I eventually delved into color correction on the job, expanding my editing capabilities in Photoshop. With time, I became the head color corrector, overseeing the entire digital department of Photoshoppers. I dove into custom color sets, ICC profiles, and even developed my own streamlined processes for the company. I took color course and eventually became an Idealliance Certified Color Master Professional. Presently, I still work for this amazing company as a manager, overseeing imaging, production, and the manufacturing side of the plant. It may not be the wildest creative position, but I get to utilize my skills, keep my passions alive, and genuinely love what I do. I joke with the title of the paragraph but in reality I’m part of an amazing team that helps forever memorialize people’s loved ones that have passed. All of my experience in media, design, photography, and color helped contribute my ability to take on this job and excel. It has not been an easy upward trajectory but it has been rewarding.

Now It’s All G Wagons and Cabo

Well, maybe a Kia Telluride and Point Reyes—but that’s actually better! I have a creative job that involves Photoshop, color correction, a lot of physical labor too. On the side, I continue doing photoshoots, doing my own editing, dabbling in videography, and now, embarking on this blog. The primary goal of this blog is to share my accumulated knowledge and help others along their creative journey. I’ll cover gear I’ve used and loved, nifty Photoshop techniques and tips, custom color profiling, dope photographers, and so much more. My hope is to assist passionate people in accelerating their learning process and fostering meaningful connections along the way. I genuinely look forward to connecting with fellow enthusiasts, answering questions, and engaging in discussions. I’m still learning myself, and that thirst for knowledge will never fade. Don’t hesitate to reach out—let’s talk about some seriously cool stuff!