A forester, a film-camera collector, and someone who is always looking for the moment that comes into focus.
My Start
I first started photography around middle school age. I’d take my Kodak EasyShare and have photo shoots with my pet bunny. In high school I was part of the photography club/class, where I first started studio work and learned Photoshop.
It was my freshman year of college in 2020, however, when I really got into it. I didn’t fit into the college scene, so I bought myself a Nikon D3200 from Facebook Marketplace and began going on hikes with it to escape campus. After college I bought my first house and needed money to pay for repairs, so I started my local photography business offering family and senior portraits in parks around town.
My Collection
Up until recently I was working with just my Nikon DSLRs. Then, around 2024, I bought my first film camera, a Pentax Spotmatic. The moment my scans came back I was hooked, and my passion for collecting vintage cameras began.
I’ve learned there are two ways people look at you for collecting film cameras: either you’re looked at like you’re completely nuts and told to “just use your iPhone to take pictures,” or someone is grateful that their dad’s or mom’s camera is being appreciated and used. Either response, I love. Since then my collection has grown to 30-odd film cameras and 3 digitals. I’ve recently finalized the ability to process my own black and white film, and I hope color film will soon follow.
Experience & Awards
I have experience working with families, children and senior portraits. Pet photography holds a special place in my heart, having done a few end-of-life pet sessions. I also enjoy photographing architecture and landscapes.
My primary career is in forestry. I’m a District Forester managing thousands of acres of tax-forfeited property, and being able to carry a camera with me on work adventures has fostered a love of wildlife and nature photography. Throughout my career I’ve placed or won in over a dozen competitions, as well as winning a photography scholarship back in college.
The “Why”
Finding In Focus
My name, “Finding In Focus Photography,” came about during a difficult phase of my life, when I had to remember what really mattered and brought me joy. There’s a distinct moment in photography where you’re looking through a viewfinder and all of a sudden your subject becomes in focus. It’s the moment right before you click the shutter where the world has gone quiet and it’s just you and your camera.
To me it’s that hunt, both in life and in photography, to find those “in focus” moments that mean the most. I’m so very thankful to be able to share my photography with others. To be honest, up until recently I never thought of myself as much of a professional — photography has just been something I’m truly passionate about. If you’re reading this, thank you for supporting me on this amazing journey.
