The Beginning... The camera and what one can do with it has always been magical and intriguing to me. Like many other photographers, my interest in photography came at an early age--around 8-years-old to be exact. I don't know if I actually photographed anything at that age but my mom tells me I was always reaching for the camera. My mom had a Polaroid Instamatic and Polaroid film was expensive, so in order to conserve film, taking pictures was always a thought-provoking process for me. I loved documenting life and trying to replicate the photos I would see in the JC Penny and Sears catalogs. Below you will find a few of my first photographs. I got serious about photography while attending SDSU. During this time I worked as a second assistant for Carl VanderSchuit, a highly accomplished and respected west coast commercial photographer. This is where I learned all about lighting, setting up commercial photo shoots and a whole lot more. It was fun and I absorbed everything without having to take notes. That's how much I was into it. I learned a great deal being on the set of some amazing photo shoots. I assisted Carl and other commercial photographers for about 3-4 years. In the early 90s I photographed and produced several swimsuit and lifestyle calendars. I financed those projects by including advertisements on the calendar pages. It was a fun and great learning experience. I was probably one of the first photographers to learn Photoshop and desktop publishing software--remember Pagemaker and Quark Express? This was back when pre-press studios and print shops were the only ones using computers and scanners. The photographers I assisted back then had no idea what Photoshop was--it was a different time. Before weddings and family portraits, I have photographed everything from fashion and swimwear to sportswear, products and architecture. Besides VanderSchuit, others who have inspired and influenced me were: Michael Voorhees, who went to SDSU, celebrity and fashion photographers, Herb Ritts, Matthew Rolston, Bruce Weber, Annie Leibowitz and Sante DeOrazio. More About Me... I was born and raised in Santa Barbara County wine country--before it became wine country. I've been shooting weddings and portraits exclusively since 1996--way before digital cameras were mainstream. I have photographed over 300 weddings. I love old stuff: buildings, gadgets, and history. I love taking great photos--especially of people. I still have all my Nikon film cameras. I still own the Polaroid I first used and my mom's 8mm movie camera. I still have my very first Apple computer. I still shoot with Nikon gear. I still use Apple computers. The computer is an amazing tool. I am a multi-tasker. I am laid-back, easy-going and down-to-earth. I am an athlete. I think it would be awesome to be a professional athlete. I used to be a competitive runner and cyclist. I was a Bruce Lee fan when i was a kid. I am a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. I've been studying grappling since the late 80s. I was awarded my black belt in 2006. I am into holistic and healthy living. I don't drink milk. I own a juicer and a Blend-Tec blender. I am married to a French girl. She's a great designer. I love watching documentary films with her. My son is incredibly cute. I've been a Carlsbad resident since 2002. Contact me when you're ready for exceptional photography...858-337-1440   Creative Floral Design: BelleFleur Company Fitness & Martial Arts Training: Dojo Americana   Some of my first photographs taken with a Polaroid camera...pictures of family from the mid 1970s.