I had my first true “exposure” to the photographic process when I enrolled in a photography class in college way back when.   I was so amazed with the entire process from taking pictures with my 24mm film camera to developing the film in a darkroom.  I must have developed print in various sizes from that single roll of film 4 or 5 times.  I have been taking pictures ever since that time.  Although I use digital cameras now, my experiences with film cameras continue to have a lasting impression on me.

Over the years, I have attended many seminars in my quest to hone my unique photography styles.  I have had the opportunity to gain insights from industry greats such as David A. Ziser, Douglas M. Kirkland, Monte Zucker and many others.  In starting my portrait photography journey, one thing that Douglas Kirkland shared that still resonates with me is, "No matter what, keep shooting and crafting your unique style.  That's the only way that you're going to develop it. Even if you don't have a steady flow of clients and you have to be your own model, keep shooting."  A key takeaway from David Ziser's seminar is his encouragement to explore various types of people photography and determine which ones I like and which ones I don't to.  In addition, he emphasized that once I do that, focus more on doing what I like.  Do just take on a photography project solely driven by the monetary aspects.  Monte Zucker shared great insights with regards to transitioning from one pose to another and how to create a completely unique capture by simply changing one element of the view--i.e. the subject's pose and/or by changing my angle or position to the subject.  In my approach to photography, I strive to leveraged all of that advice as well as other great insightst that I have received from other industry experts.