2. How long have you been taking pictures? How did you know you wanted to pursue a career in photography? Photography has always been a big part of my life. I was the kid on the Boy Scouts camping trips who always packed the point and shoot camera. But I actually went to college to study filmmaking and I got my start working on movies. I worked for studios, producers, and even a famous director for a few years. I eventually started producing and shooting video content for magazines and I found myself taking photographs on some of the assignments. Over the years things have flipped and now I’m primarily taking photographs with some video/film jobs here and there.
3. What inspires you? What is your favorite thing to photograph? I still get really excited when I look through my camera’s viewfinder and take a photo of a person framed against a breathtaking location. Placing a person in front of a towering mountain range shows a sense of scale, but it also starts to tell a story as well. You might start to wonder how the person in the photo got there or where they’re heading next. Some of the best movies let the audience use their imagination to tell the story and I think photos can have the same effect.
4. What has been your most memorable photoshoot so far? The most fun I’ve ever had was on a video/photo shoot where we profiled an outdoor photographer in the Pacific Northwest who lived and worked out of his RV. The project came together very quickly so we kept the crew light and camped in the photographer’s RV! We woke up in the backcountry, rather than in hotel rooms, and we captured some amazing images because we were truly documenting our adventure as it unfolded. The whole shoot had a feeling of excitement as we moved from one location to the next and I think the photos and video we produced convey the same thrill we all felt cruising through the mountains.
5. Tell us about your shoot for PC and having your wife/daughter as models? I take photos wherever we go, but it was special to do a shoot specifically to celebrate my wife and daughter’s bond in these gorgeous dresses. This particular beach was one of the first places in Oregon we visited as a family before moving from California, and we loved the beach so much that it was a factor in deciding to make the move. It’s our happy place and I knew the photographs would capture their joy as they played with our dog. However, despite the perfect location and wardrobe, my daughter did have some moments where her patience was tested. We visited the toy store the next morning as payment for her modeling services!
6. Happy Father’s Day! How are you and your sweet family going to celebrate? Thank you! I’m looking forward to celebrating my first Father’s Day in Oregon in a very Oregonian way— my thoughtful wife made us reservations at a Father’s Day BBQ at our local winery. Food trucks, wine and my beautiful family. My parents just flew out from NJ, so I’m celebrating Father’s Day with my Dad too. What more could I ask for?
Look out for more photos from Steve to come!