FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
With the digital age in full bloom, the need to keep up with the latest camera technologies, the advent of so many types of media to present photographic work , etc., makes it imperative for me to take courses for various aspects of photography, accessing the vast amount of knowledge and ideas brought to my fingertips due to the world wide web. I tap into resources that help me stay abreast of the latest trends, techniques, equipment and creativity. This is brought about by different people, from different lands, backgrounds with the commonality of looking through a viewfinder and capturing a moment in time.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
As strange as it may sound, I really got interested in photography after a picture was taken of me sitting in front of the college library. One of the campus newspaper photographers saw me and snapped a picture. I asked him if I could get a copy of it and how long would it take ( thinking it would be weeks) and he informed me that I could have a copy the next day. I was amazed that I could get it so quickly, after all, the local drugstore couldnt do it that fast. The next day, just as he had said, he brought the prints to me ( I didnt know he had actually taken some shots before I noticed him) and I thought he captured exactly what I was feeling and thinking at that time and moment. Not to mention, I looked pretty cool in my bell bottomed, blue jean outfit. I asked him how he was able to do what he did and how could I learn how to do it. He advised that I sign up for some photography courses and take it from there. The only problem, I found out, was a 2 ½ semester waiting list to get into the course. That wasnt going to work for me since I didn't have the money to last that long and start a new major in midstream. I was so stricken with the photo bug, however, that I left school, went home and beat the pavement looking for someone to teach me all about photography and start me on my way to the Pulitzer Prize for Best Photograph and all the glamor and prestige that would come with it. Well, that was pretty hard to do since I didnt have a camera to start with. It wasnt too long that my friends and relative heard about my new endeavor a friend of mine indicated he had a 35mm rangefinder I could use. It was not the single lens reflex I was hoping for but it used film and the shutter worked. At this point, I just needed someone to teach me what to do with the film after I had taken the picture. The problem was solved when I was pointed in the direction of Terry R. He worked for the Public Relations department as a photographer at a local junior college. I was able to find him at work in the darkroom and after introducing myself and letting him know of my plans, Terry was kind enough to take me under his wings and teach me the basics of Black and White photography. It was an adventure to say the least. Learning how to roll film onto a stainless steel reel, how to mix the chemicals to process the film, how much time for each step of development, the right temperature and so on. Daunting challenges but due to my eagerness to learn and the fun I was having around every learning curve, it was not long before friends and relatives were asking me to take pictures at their events, and special occasions and some actually paid me. This is how I got started on the road to becoming a photographer and earning money while doing something I enjoyed doing. Even if I didnt get paid, I would still enjoy the world of photography and the adventures it has to offer.
- What types of customers have you worked with?
The most common jobs Ive been doing actually varies with the season. Toward the end of summer, I am very busy with senior photos for high school students who will be graduating the following spring. Then there are the outdoor fall weddings for those that want to take advantage of the fall colors and temperatures. The winter brings Holiday cards and events, that lead into Spring for more Senior photos and graduations . Then you have the Summer weddings and the family reunions that abound after a cold, hard Winter.