Where are you based?
Rockville, Md – a suburb north of Washington, DC.
How many years have you been a photographer?
I’ve been a full-time portrait/event photographer for nearly 30 years.
What is the most interesting photoshoot/subject you’ve ever photographed?
Aside from Senators and other political types I think my most interesting subject is the next person that I am about to photograph. It’s always fun to get to know various interests of people and find out what makes them tick and have them in session convinced they have taken their best image ever.
What do you like most about being a photographer?
I enjoy helping people look their best and bringing out their inner spark of individuality. Not everyone enjoys having their portrait done and I like working with people to put them at ease and enjoying their photo session beyond their expectation. I think of it as a form of mental jujitsu.
Do you ever shoot with a film camera?
Although I still own film cameras and enjoy the medium, I have worked exclusively with digital equipment for the past 20 years.
What is your favorite vacation destination?
For sheer relaxation, I enjoy Cabo, San Lucas. My wife and I have had a time-share there for many years. My favorite areas to travel and photograph have been Ireland, England, Italy and the Middle East. I enjoy being immersed in a completely different culture and seeing everything from a new perspective.
Who inspires you?
I have been inspired in the past by many famous photographers. Henri Cartier Bresson and his street photography; Josef Karsh and his amazing portraits; Gordon Parks; the first African American photographer for Life magazine; and Lewis Hine’s pioneering work documenting child labor conditions in factories in the 1930s for the WPA to name a few.
How did you choose photography as an art form/career?
I’ve always been fascinated by the human condition and I’m not a good painter. Photography allows me to continue to pursue my artistic side.
When did you know you wanted to be a photographer?
My father gave me a used twin-lens reflex camera when i was about 12 years old and taking photographs and developing them in my basement darkroom had something magical about it.
What is your favorite aspect of portrait photography?
Being a portrait photographer allows me to come in contact and interact with so many interesting people that I photograph. It is an honor to be able to do this and it’s fun helping people feel comfortable and create a genuine and natural portrait that they can use for years to come.
When you are not creating portraits for work, what kind of photography do you enjoy?
I especially enjoy travel location photography. When traveling there are so many new sights and experiences with different cultures that one can experience. It’s fun to sit in a cafe or walk through a new city and photograph people and cityscapes that I can experience with a fresh vision.