I still remember the first time I felt the power of a camera and a telephoto lens. It was 1985, and I was on an overnight canoe trip at a summer camp in northern New Hampshire. When we came upon a few moose grazing at dusk, my counselor handed me his camera and let me take a few shots. It was magical, not just in that moment, but again when the prints came back from the developer and that memory was in my hands.
In 1992 I went to Skidmore College to study economics and philosophy, but it was my photography electives that took me back to that feeling in the canoe. Whether I was studying composition and lighting, shooting assignments, or working in the darkroom, I felt a connection. When I showed my professor this photograph of a wooden walkway, his reaction was profound, and he urged me to pursue photography as a career. I had always thought of myself as more craftsman than intellectual, and in that moment, I knew image making would be my path.
I started out stringing for a newspaper in my Connecticut hometown. In 1998 I spent a month in Nicaragua with a friend and my camera, and the images won a place in a group show as best photography, fortifying my confidence in a career in this field. (You can see some of them in the Projects section.)
Wanting more technical training, I spent the next several years assisting established photographers across fashion, still life, editorial, resort hotels, and weddings, helping many of them make the switch to digital along the way.
In 2000 I moved to San Francisco and never looked back. For nearly three decades I’ve shot food, products, fashion, and lifestyle imagery for numerous clients and brands, and I’ve expanded into cinematography as well.
Food and cookware have become one of my specialties. Years spent with chefs and food stylists, in test kitchens and on set, gave me a deep appreciation for the craft and the tools of cooking, and eventually a passion for cooking myself.
I’m always looking forward to the next job. Every one has its challenges, and I bring my training and skills to solving problems, making things look good, and helping brands stand out.
As the industry enters the age of AI, we’re in a major transition. I plan to treat it as one more tool in my quiver, not a substitute for the craft. No machine will replace the human eye or its ability to capture the decisive moment.
When I’m not behind the camera professionally, I’m usually cooking, playing golf or tennis, or spending time outdoors with my wife and two children. As for the telephoto lens, I save that for my kids’ soccer games.
Feel free to reach out to discuss your next project.
