I started my love affair with photography at the age of 17. I bought myself an SLR camera and, from the moment I had it in my hands, I started to explore the world through my camera. I had asked my dad to buy me a camera but he said, "you'll be bored of it in two weeks", so he refused to be involved with the purchase. Looking back, that was probably a good thing. It was all mine, my idea, and my $170.00. ( Can you believe that price!!)

I dove into the entire process. Shooting, processing film, and printing in the B&W darkroom all became immediate passions of mine. I fell hard for Black & White and still feel that it's the most beautiful photographic process. (Of course, I am pretty wild for digital photography these days.)

Without any recognition or self-realization, I was already a photographer at 17. I fell right into it without a word spoken from anyone. I had no guidance. It was just me, my camera, and my eyes.

After high school graduation, I went off to C.W. Post College with no direction. However, I was lucky enough to take a photography course with world-renowned photojournalist Arthur Leipzig. Arthur changed my life. Though at the time I could not print B&W to save my life, Arthur said, "Go to Art School to be a photographer". I listened, and my life turned a corner from which I have never looked back. Except to thank Arthur.

I transferred to Philadelphia College of Art. PCA was an incredible experience. For the first time in my life, I felt that I belonged. Those places in my soul that had been empty were now filled. I became a drawing and painting major before switching to a BFA program in Photography.

I moved to NYC after getting my BFA degree, and became a freelance photo assistant for a host of great photographers. The photographer who influenced me the most was Tosh Matsumoto. He is one of the few real artists that I have met in the industry. Tosh taught me how to enjoy the business, and not to lose my creativity in a commercial world.

The rest is history. I love what I do, and I have been doing it for over 25 years.

My wife, Jessica Speart, and I moved from NYC to a small town in CT.