Before I went to Marine Corps boot camp in 2002, my girlfriend (now wife) gave me her high school photo to bring with me. I carried that photograph throughout boot camp and two tours in Iraq. It got me through some of the toughest nights of my life. That is where I learned how important a photograph can be.

It's how I grained my perspective on time. It's our most valuable asset. You use it or lose it. For me, photography is the only way to ensure every meaningful moment experienced during our time will be there when you need them the most.

When I begin to take an interest in photography it was to take photos of my children. I wanted to remember every moment, the big, the small, and the inbetween. Childhood innocence can just stop you in your tracks. It is a quick moment, a brief burst of energy and excitement that is ultimately fleeting.

In those moments the world is seen through pure wonder and amazement. We don't get the privilege of remembering this time ourselves as we were children which is why it's special to observe and witness. I wanted that gift for myself and my children to have.

In return, this led me to always have a camera on me when we would do anything as a family.

Doing this really started to stick with me. It give me a creative outlet I was really starting to jive with. I wanted more! So I decided to jump into portraiture for people that we just not my family. In doing so, I had received an offer to photograph a wedding.

To say I was nervous would be an understatement, but I was up for the challenge.

And let me tell you what, I had a freaking BLAST. The energy and the moments had me hooked. I was documenting life the same way I loved to, just on a grander scale. After that wedding I finally knew what I wanted to really do.

how it all started