After finishing high school, I got a job at a sneaker store in the mall, making minimum wage.  While helping an extremely sociable woman try on sneakers, she complimented my customer service and began questioning my job in retail and asked what I wanted to do with my life.  I told her that my true passion was photography.  She immediately told me that she herself was a photographer and worked for a company on the weekends, shooting at weddings and other social events.  I thought she was rubbing it in my face until she told me about her busy schedule and asked if I would be interested in filling in for her when she wasn’t available.  Of course, I didn’t hesitate to accept the amazing offer in front of me; it was small work, but from that point on, I felt I was one step closer.  It seems as though God had put that woman in my path to fill my desire to become a photographer.

Not many eighteen year olds get the opportunity to take professional pictures at weddings and sweet sixteen’s; let alone somebody with no degree or work to show in that field.  I worked with that company for three years – taking pictures at weddings, other special occasions, some music videos, I even had the opportunity to shoot a few celebrity events in New York City.  All of these photo opportunities allowed me to gain experience using a professional camera.  At the time, I was shooting with a Canon EOS ELAN 7E (film), with interchangeable lenses and an external flash; it was a whole new ballgame from that point on.

I’ve been through many cameras since my passion started and since I began photographing weddings, but no other compares to the camera I use now – my beloved Canon 5D.  I have been photographing for a little over 10 years now, and have photographed from Israel Houghton and CeCe Winans, to the beauty God places in nature and the world around us – and everything in between.

Now, aside from my own freelance work, I've photographed for a few studios in Staten Island, which allowed me to learn from them, their strengths and their flaws, which gave me the insight on how to perfect what I do in order to bring my client the best package and service available.

God has brought many people across my path, one of which is an amazing videographer who had created many short films and is working on a movie.  When my clients desire to have photos and video in their package, he's the man for the job and he provides a professional service along with outstanding "movie-like" quality video.  Click the following link to visit his site: JLY Productions.

It’s been said, “If you have a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”  My free time is spent increasing my individual clientele by booking a variety of different photography jobs, as well as taking photos at nearby events and using every opportunity I can find to expand my already extensive portfolio.

God has also placed in my heart to start two ministries; one called 'GoodHearts for Jesus,' the other called 'Snacktime - Let's Eat.'  Come visit the sites to learn more.

On a side note, to give glory to God, the one that made this all possible, I will explain how I arrived at this place in my life today.  It has been a struggle because my foundation with God was built myself since there was no influence in my early years; I knew of Him, but I didn’t know Him.  In 2007, I was introduced to Jesus intimately through someone He sent in my path.  I was leading a life that was quickly spiraling downward, and by His Grace, I was saved and released from my sins.  My walk now is in total God-loving fear. My old self has died and I shudder to even think of who I was, but I rejoice in who I’ve become.  I truly live by the scriptures that Paul wrote: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (NKJV Bible, Philippians 4.13) and "Do not conform any longer to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV Bible, Romans 12.2).  Those scriptures have touched my heart in ways that cannot be described in words.

I find myself looking at things in an abstract way.  My eyes are open to the uniqueness of the world and when shooting for others, I love knowing that I am helping somebody else hold on to the memories that are most important to them.