The storyteller story
I was born and raised in the rainiest town in the US, Forks, Washington. From an early age I loved being outdoors in the elements and connected to the earth. As I grew up, I played all the sports, did all the hikes, had the great friends. But when I reached my mid 20's I noticed that I wasn't feeling fulfilled. What was missing? I went back to college trying to figure out some sort of direction. One day I was dissecting a frog in a biology class. I didn't sleep the night before, drug my feet into that class. As I sat there in class with a little scalpel in my hand, the most obvious truth surface in my head: I want to be doing something else. I want to be doing something that I love to do. I decided right there I'd leave and go do what I love to do more than anything: tell stories.
I had no plan. I didn't own a camera. I didn't know what was possible. Just that I'd figure it out. So I bought a camera. Learned how to use it on YouTube. Then took some photos. Learned how to edit. Then started writing screenplays. Then made a documentary. Then started taking on larger photography gigs such as weddings, portraits, and branding. Then got to travel and shoot. Then made a bigger documentary.
In 2017-2018, I co-wrote & directed the award-winning documentary series, The Human Longevity Project, which studied the areas around the world with the longest living people.
Storytelling has been such a huge part of my life and I am grateful for that every single day. I'm less interested in technical specs and more interested in how an image makes me FEEL. My style usually includes tones and comforting aesthetic that feels like it's from another time. A built-in nostalgic feel.
When I'm not telling stories, I love to be out in nature more than anything. I take plenty of road trips searching for the secret spots and camping under the stars. I like to live a clean and healthy lifestyle, and also have my own life coaching practice. I have been fortunate in that I have been able to travel a lot and see a good chunk of the world. I still love to travel, but am loving my current hometown of Encinitas, California.