My first camera had a fixed lens. I hated that I had no control. Upon graduating from high school, my parents gifted me with my first 35mm camera that I cherished. I took it with me everywhere.

My original goal was to write a novel on graduation. A few years later, with no novel written, my girlfriend told me plainly: You need to go to college. I needed a major that I wouldn't give up on, and photography was something that I could spend 4 years studying. To skip a level or two of photography, you could show your portfolio to a faculty member. After seeing everyone's portfolio, I was completely mortified. I realized that I hadn't even scratched the surface of what I could do. I decided to learn everything I could about photography.

I became a Teacher's Assistant in the darkroom, and loved assisting other students with their technical issues. I was selected to be a student leader representing the photography department for orientation because of my passion and knowledge of photography. I realized that I would shoot headshots some day and took acting classes so that I could learn the language of actors. As part of the curriculum, it was recommended that you take Photojournalism, something that I looked down upon. -And then I met my teacher, John H. White. John is more than a Pulitzer Prize winner in photography. He made me understand that a photograph is a moment in time, that photojournalists have a front seat to history, and that a great teacher can alter your future. I am the teacher I am today because of Mr. White.

I interned at Playboy in my senior year.

Both then and now I love photographing people.

After graduation, I worked several freelance jobs as a product photographer. When I started getting into improv, friends needed headshots. The headshot industry was a closed loop in Chicago, with agencies recommending photographers that they had a deal with.

To stand out, I needed to connect with every performer. It just so happened that I was learning about improv at the time, which is all about connecting with your fellow performer.

As I became better at improv, I started teaching workshops and was hired as a teacher at WestSide Improv in Wheaton, IL..
I have an incredible amount of fun at both jobs, and I get to meet an incredible group of talented people along the way. I've received some great testimonials for my photography.

But the best compliment I've ever gotten while photographing someone was when – while I was moving the lights between shots – my client asked if they could be my friend.

I shoot people for a living. And they pay me to do it.