Photography has been a passion for as long as I can remember. Like many professionals who started out in the “good old days” of film, my first camera was an old Pentax K-1000. There was something magical about being able to envision an image and then make it come to life with the proper combination of aperture, exposure and a photographic eye. My interest in the visual arts followed me to Michigan State University, where I graduated in 1992 with a B.A. in advertising.

Shortly after graduating, I traded the weary winters of Michigan for the sunny shores of Hilton Head Island. My photography skills were quickly recognized by area publications and it wasn’t long before I was shooting for clients all over the Southeast. I’m very fortunate - not only to have established a successful career as a photographer in this beautiful place, but to have established a family as well.

When not traveling the country shooting commercial jobs or weddings, I spend much of my time with my wife, Samantha, our daughter, T.C., and our son, Brodie. Of course, our two Australian Shepherds, Skye and Merlin, are usually in tow as well. Together, we enjoy traveling to the North Carolina mountains or simply grilling out and enjoying the view off of our back porch. Samantha will often be found along side of me shooting weddings and family portraits so that she may create animated slideshows for families to enjoy. A busy photography schedule doesn’t leave me much free time. However, when I can, I like to golf, coach Brodie on his baseball teams, take to the kitchen as the family chef and tend to my biggest hobby - my backyard herb garden.

Somebody once asked me, “How can you stand all of the pressure involved with being a wedding photographer?” Reflecting on that, the first thing I thought of was how important my family is to me – and not just my wife and children, but my mother, brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins. We are all very close. “I don’t feel any pressure,” I replied. “Instead, I feel like, for one day, I’m a special part of somebody else’s family, and I want to do everything I can to help them remember a truly once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Although I retired that Pentax K-1000 long ago and now shoot with the latest Nikon digital SLR equipment, I have never lost touch with the magic involved with creating enduring images and the importance of really enjoying what you do.