In the fall of 1976 from the North Hill overlooking downtown Calgary, I captured my first image using the family camera.  I had no idea what I was doing or how to work the dials, but the beauty of the full moon over downtown that evening was breathtaking enough to be remembered in print.  I placed the old camera on the car roof and took a few frames.  As serendipity would have it, the exposure was long enough to make the scene come alive and from the moment I saw the print, I realized there was much to explore in the art of photography.  And, so it began…

The Early Years…

1977 – Interest in Photography Grew

• Purchased first camera, a Canon AE-1
• Understanding the art of lighting began by working in theatre and motion picture in Calgary IATSE Local 212
• Understanding body language and natural posing began with photographing social events with friends and family.  This proved to be the precursor of event work.

1978|79 – Interest Turned Apprenticeship

• Apprenticeship began at Old Masters Portrait Studio in Calgary when John and Chuck Groot hired me to work in their studio to satisfy my insatiable appetite to learn more about photography.
• Launching of my photographic career essentially began when both John and Chuck invited me to work for them when John decided to semi-retire and move their portrait studio to Victoria, the West Coast of British Columbia.

1979 – The Big Move

• Moved to Victoria, British Columbia to work with Old Masters Studio, Helping photograph weddings on Saturdays
• Learned behind-the-scenes of lab and print management while working in a Professional Photo Lab during the week.
• Continued working in the lab until the next step in my career got under way in 1986

1986 –The Big Launch

• Monthly socializing trips to Vancouver increased the desire of my heart to pursue my dream of photographing full time
• The Big Launch story goes something like this:  A friend approached me saying, ‘there’s nothing for you in Victoria; you need to move to Vancouver.’  Within two weeks of receiving that truism in the fall, I made the move to Vancouver, British Columbia.
• Two weeks after the move, serendipity played out when Royal LePage, my first corporate client, hired me to cover their event work, and eventually doing all the portraiture for all of their realtors in the Vancouver and Victoria area.

1987|89 – Vancouver Studios

• 1987 saw the move into the first studio space in Gastown, the oldest section of Vancouver.
• 1989 saw the move to the 800 block of West Pender where my first law firm and now long-time client, McCarthy Tetrault, hired me for their photographic needs.

The Present Time…..

1991|Present – Life Transitions into a Home Studio

• 1991 begins the current day operation of a home-based office, shooting on location.
• 2011, twenty years later, an in-house office means continued savings for clients who enjoy lower rates because of reduced overhead costs.
• Setting up the studio on location also allows added convenience for clients by keeping staff away from their desk for minutes as opposed to over an hour if travel to a studio was required.
• Current client base is broad, including:  10+ large law firms, accounting, and many other firms listed on my web site.
• Giving back to the community has become a passion of mine as many not-for-profit and charities require photography to keep their organization on top in advertising.  From Nightshift Street Ministries in North Surrey, Dress For Success, to Street to Home in Vancouver, to The Lung Association of BC, and others, giving back to a community that has provided so much for me is the least I could do.