Tell us about yourself!
I was born and raised outside Washington DC. I spent the first portion of my life fencing, which took me all over the world and eventually dropped me at The Ohio State University. I fenced there on the varsity team.
At 22, I would pick up a camera.
What’s your photographic specialty? How’d you get into it?
I’m an architectural photographer.
I was always into things… Craftsmanship, how things worked. But I didn’t quite understand or really become aware of design until college.
My college studies were in political science—specifically, Eastern European nation building. On my own time, I became more interested in urban design, city planning and architecture as problem-solving, or as something that can significantly enhance peoples’ lives.
In the beginning, Columbus was at peak of the High Street streetcar, proposed height restrictions on High Street, etc. I found photography could be my voice on design, progressive city planning, and urban density. My reach at the time was extremely limited, but it gave me a passion to pursue.
What’s your favorite thing about Columbus?
Columbus is an interesting city. There’s an amazing creative class doing some great things. On the other hand, I think the city leadership could use a bit more gumption and grit. A bold idea or two would be good. Maybe a bit more urban chaos.
While not a ‘big city’, Columbus offers so much, much of it with convenience. If I had to list a few of my favorite things about Columbus, it’d go in this order: people, food, and music.
And I’m always interested in seeing what places like the Wexner Center and Center for Architecture do next.
Where do you go for inspiration?
So much of my commercial work is photographed under the ‘perfect’ conditions. Sharp green grass, crisp blue skies. I would go crazy if I didn’t change it up every now and again.
So I travel. I seek ‘bad’ weather, imperfect circumstances, a visual break from the known — just getting out there. I’ll get these visions, nothing supernatural or anything, just an idea for an image. But often times, I’ll wander down the path toward it and find myself drawn to something completely different.
You have to keep going to the well—something different always comes out.
What do you wish someone told you when you first started out?
My dad actually told me pretty early in life, “some people are jerks. You don’t have to deal with them.” Turns out he was right about that!
Most people in life are pretty great, and I’ve been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by terrific people throughout my life. Sometimes you bounce into someone who is just not worth the hassle of dealing with. They’re toxic, as Milton Glaser would say. So you’re better off doing your own thing, and not interacting with them.
But you do need people in your life, friends, colleagues, mentors… choose them wisely.
Tell us about your transition from hobby to business.
It’s been good. At the time, it seemed like it was all happening so fast. As I look back, it happened rather naturally.
I spent a few years learning and a few years freelancing on small projects before transitioning to photography full-time. And now, I’m entering the fifth year of my full-time photography studio. Certainly mistakes were made along the way, and lessons learned, but I’m always trying to grow from these things. Learn new skills, pursue new types of work. Gotta keep things fresh.
What’s next?
There are some exciting commercial projects coming up in 2014, but I prefer to not pre-announce. Beyond that, I’ll make it interesting.