I never planned on being a photographer. Not even close. If you told 18 year old me that I'd be running a photography studio in Camarillo one day, I would've laughed.
But life has a way of surprising you. Let me tell you how I got here.
Growing Up in Santa Paula
I was born in Ventura, CA but lived my whole life in Santa Paula. Small town, working class, the kind of place where everybody knows everybody. I went to Santa Paula High School, class of '06, and basketball was my entire world.
I wasn't just playing for fun. I was serious about it. I wanted to go as far as I could.
College Basketball and Division 1
After high school I played at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, CA for two seasons. From there I signed a Division 1 scholarship at California State University, Bakersfield.
That's where things got real. During my two years at Bakersfield, I competed against future NBA players like Paul George and Lance Stephenson. We played powerhouse programs like UCLA and Gonzaga. I wasn't making NBA money, but I was living the dream of competing at the highest level of college basketball.
Professional Basketball in Mexico
After college, I thought my basketball career was over. I had accepted it. But then I got the opportunity to try out for a professional team in Mexico and was signed on the spot.
I spent the next three years playing professional basketball in Mexico. Three years of living out my childhood dream. It wasn't the NBA, but it was professional basketball and I was getting paid to do what I loved.
That experience taught me something that I carry into every session today. The discipline of showing up every day, putting in the work, and trusting the process. That mindset never left me.
Picking Up My First Camera
Here's where the story takes a turn.
While I was playing in Mexico, I needed a way to make money in the offseason. I needed something flexible enough that I could still train and stay in shape for the next season. So in June of 2015, I picked up my first camera. The Sony a6000. A tiny but mighty beast that I still have to this day.
I started off thinking I was going to shoot sports. That made sense, right? I knew sports. I understood the intensity, the movement, the emotion. But I kept finding myself drawn to something different.
Falling in Love with Headshots
I kept being pulled toward portraits. Specifically the details of close up shots. The way lighting hit someone's face. The way a small change in expression could completely change the feel of a photo. The connection between me and the person in front of my camera.
That's when I fell in love with headshots.
What I didn't expect was the variety of people I'd get to work with. Actors, doctors, lawyers, real estate professionals, entrepreneurs, executives. Every person has a different story, a different energy, and a different reason for being in front of my camera. That variety is what keeps me excited about this work every single day.
Athletes Die Twice
There's a saying that athletes die twice. The first time is the day they retire from their sport. The second is the day of their actual death.
I felt that first death. When basketball ended, I lost a huge part of my identity. I didn't know who I was without it. For a while, I was searching for something to fill that void.
Photography didn't just fill it. It replaced my passion for basketball and gave my life purpose again. The same intensity I brought to the court, I bring to every session. The same coaching mentality I learned from my coaches, I use to guide my clients through their poses and expressions. The same discipline of training every day, I apply to mastering my craft.
It all connected in ways I never expected.
Why Headshots Specifically
People ask me this a lot. With all the different types of photography out there, why headshots?
Because I believe your image matters. The first impression someone gets of you online, whether that's on LinkedIn, your company website, or a speaking bio, is usually your photo. Before they read a single word about you, they've already formed an opinion based on what they see.
I take that seriously. My job is to make sure that first impression is accurate, confident, and authentically you. Not some stiff, awkward photo that doesn't represent who you really are.
I coach you through every pose and expression so you're not just standing there guessing. Most of my clients tell me they were nervous walking in and surprised at how easy and fun the session was. That's by design.
My Studio in Camarillo
Today I run my studio out of Camarillo, CA, serving clients across Ventura County, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles. I've photographed hundreds of professionals and built relationships with clients who keep coming back.
I've got 83 five star Google reviews from people who walked in nervous and left feeling great about their photos. That's what I'm most proud of. Not the technical side of photography, but the experience I create for every person who walks through my door.
The Journey Continues
It's been quite a journey. From Santa Paula to college basketball to professional ball in Mexico to picking up a camera and finding my calling. None of it was planned. All of it was worth it.
If you've ever switched up careers or found your passion in an unexpected place, you know exactly what I mean. Sometimes the best things in life are the ones you never saw coming.
Thank you for visiting my website. I look forward to working with you. Don't worry, I got you.
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