Portrait photography has become an important part of who I am.
The portrait side of my photography experience began in music. I loved doing band photos
and art associated with music. I enjoyed seeing my work published and used in a variety
of ways...but generally it was to make somebody look "cool".
This was great fun to someone in their early twenties who wanted badly to be accepted
into the "cool" crowd. I definitely didn't think that doing weddings and portraits of kids
was hip. It wasn't to long after graduating from photo school that I began to cool off
on the music scene. Record labels were a pain, bands broke up and I had to photograph
bands that I didn't care about. I found I needed an emotional connection. I found
that capturing moments of childhood was much more gratifying. It probably helped that
I also became a teacher and for the last 15 years have been on the frontline of education...
the classroom. Now I find myself entralled with trying to capture the energy and personality
of children. I still photograph bands, adults and try to be creative in general but a great
photograph of childhood transcends. A photograph can empower a child. I have seen it
and I have been moved by it. That is when it becomes more than business.
I could go on and on about it. I could get esoteric. I'll save that for another day.
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