A Personal Introduction

Introducing Myself and My Boudoir Photography

So where did it all start?

I was about ten years old when I started drawing. I was in love with Marvel comics and drawing my own superhero stories. I was pretty good at drawing strong men with 20 abs but my women, they were looking a little rough. Women, it seemed, needed a more delicate hand. So what's a young artist to do when faced with a lack of female photo reference? I can already tell where your mind is going but...think of a simpler time. I grew up in the 90's and had an older sister so, for me, it was fashion magazines.

I would pore over them all. Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Allure, Glamour, Elle and the occasional Details or Maxim. I would draw from the magazines, but in between drawing I would read them cover to cover. I learned a lot about women from those magazines. I'm pretty sure I still know "How to tell when he's flirting and how to flirt back."

The 90's were also the era of the supermodel. Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Helena Christensen and more. They would grace the pages of so many magazines that I often wondered who they were. I'd study their expressions, their poses, their clothing. They were beautiful, of course, but I was more curious about who they were. I had so many questions. Were they everything I imagined?

I moved to NYC after art school. It seemed like the thing to do.

I was in my early 20's and figured I'd finally make good on that teenage plan of "becoming a comic book artist for Marvel." Only problem was I had fallen out of love with comic book art.

Here I was now Mr. Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Fine.

Arts.

Spider-Man, I love you but you've never been Fine Arts, bud. I'm here to be a cigarette chomping, beret wearing, ear slicing artist. As time took its course, naturally, I ended up working a sales job instead.

It was a job in camera sales and I quickly learned that the first rule of selling cameras — getting high on your own supply. I couldn't help it. The customers came at me with so many questions that my ignorance was obvious. I had never wanted to learn photography, in fact I avoided it because I didn't want an expensive hobby, but here I was now and my inexperience was losing me sales. So when a co-worker of mine offered to sell me his old digital SLR for $200 I had to jump at the chance to learn more and do better at my job.

"Ugh, I hate the way my face looks!"

Though I was still new to photography, I was very dedicated to learning as much as I could. This is what brought me to assist my co-worker on a fashion photoshoot. He was shooting a newly signed model for her agency. She had a few shoots under her belt but the agency wanted some new images. The shoot was very casual, minimal gear was used and the model looked beautiful. But when she reviewed the images on set she said "Ugh, I hate the way my face looks!" which then led into a longer diatribe of self hatred.

Things had come full circle. The curiosity I had in my youth about models had been answered. Over the course of 5 years in NYC I eventually photographed dozens of models. Every now and then I'd hear

"I hate my...(whatever)."

It made me sad. It only got worse when I started doing portraits and headshots. A person who makes their living in front of a camera can probably find some level of comfort in that kind of work. But people with less experience in front of a camera, it can take much longer and the negative self talk is sometimes more intense and never-ending.

So how'd I get into boudoir photography?

In 2016 I was living in Charleston, SC. My days of photographing models and assisting on fashion shoots in NYC were behind me. I was still a photographer but the scene in Charleston was way different and I was shooting a lot less.

Out of the blue I got a message on Instagram from a model I had shot with in NYC. She went on to explain that she had dealt with a health scare recently and fortunately all was well now, but it made her want to celebrate her body with a boudoir photoshoot. She told me that she would gladly make the 11 hour drive to shoot with me.

"You're the only one I trust to do this." She said.

I was stunned, honestly. Those words are ones that still echo within me. "You're the only one I trust..." It meant a lot then and still means a lot to me now.

After that shoot, something clicked inside me. It was more than just taking photos, it was about capturing a moment of transformation, self acceptance, and empowerment. The experience was intimate and personal, and it made me realize how powerful photography could be.

The model’s vulnerability and trust in me sparked a new passion. I saw how the session helped her reconnect with her body and embrace her beauty, and I knew this was something I wanted to pursue further. Boudoir photography became more than just photos to me. It became a way to help people see themselves in a new light and to capture the essence of who they are.

From that point on, I dove headfirst into boudoir photography. I started learning everything I could about it, developing my style, learning about posing and refining my approach. I wanted each session to be a transformative experience for my clients, just like it had been for that model.

That’s how I got into boudoir photography. It wasn’t planned, but sometimes the best things in life aren’t. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to help people see their beauty, confidence, and strength through my lens.