"Capturing Moments in Time"

Photography has always felt natural to me because creativity has always been part of my family. Growing up, I was surrounded by people who had artistic talent in different ways, whether through their careers, hobbies, or everyday life. My mom was a photographer for many years, including working as a medical photographer, and she was also hired as a freelance photographer for the Pittsburgh Folk Festival. Watching her work with cameras and creativity from a young age definitely planted the seed for my own interest in photography.

My dad expressed creativity in a completely different way. He hand-built model airplanes and cars, carefully painting and detailing them to accurately match their specific time periods. He also had a passion for landscaping and took pride in turning our yard into something visually beautiful and unique. Looking back, I realize both of my parents had an incredible eye for detail, patience, and artistry, and that mindset naturally carried over to me. Even beyond my parents, creativity seemed to run throughout my entire family. Their parents, siblings, and relatives all had artistic personalities in one form or another, whether professionally or through personal passions. It was simply part of who we were.

My personal journey into photography really began while attending the University of Pittsburgh. I enrolled in a digital imaging class that completely immersed me into the world of photography and visual storytelling. One of the most exciting parts of the class was that we were able to rent DSLR cameras from the university for our projects. Being able to physically work with professional-style cameras, experiment with composition, lighting, editing, and storytelling through images completely changed my perspective.

What stands out to me the most is how memorable that class still is today. I can still remember many of the projects my classmates created, along with several of my own projects from that semester. That class sparked something creatively that stuck with me long after it ended. It was the first time photography felt like more than just taking pictures. It felt like a true artistic outlet.

After that semester ended, I decided to fully invest into the hobby and purchased my first DSLR camera, a Sony Alpha 55, from Ritz Camera. That camera became part of my life for nearly ten years. It traveled with me everywhere, captured countless memories, sporting events, cityscapes, and creative projects, and ultimately helped shape the photographer I am today. Even after the camera eventually stopped working, the passion it helped create never faded.

Today, photography is more than just a hobby for me. It is a way to tell stories, preserve emotion, and capture moments that people can connect with. “Capturing Moments in Time” is more than just a phrase to me; it represents the purpose behind every photograph I take. Whether I am capturing dramatic coastlines, the beauty of Pittsburgh’s skyline, historic steel heritage imagery, architecture, events, or everyday moments, my goal is to preserve memories, emotion, and atmosphere in a way that allows people to relive those moments for years to come. I approach every image with the same creativity and passion that has been part of my family for generations.