On October 1, 2025, I earned the Photographic Craftsman Degree from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). This degree recognizes photographers who have demonstrated excellence through teaching, writing, and elevating the profession. I’ve always believed that the best way to master a subject is to teach it, and this degree reflects that philosophy.

I’m also a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP), originally certified in July 2022 and renewed in July 2025. CPP certification requires passing a comprehensive written exam covering exposure, lighting, composition, camera science, and more—along with a rigorous technical image review. To stay certified, CPPs must complete ongoing education to ensure their skills continue to meet PPA’s professional standards.

Credentials are valuable—but what do they mean for you?

A helpful comparison is cooking. Anyone can make a meal, but not everyone can create a dish worth paying for. A skilled chef brings technique, creativity, and consistency together to create something memorable. Photography is the same. Anyone can snap a picture, but creating an image that expresses emotion, confidence, and connection requires experience, technical control, and an understanding of how people want to be seen.

These qualifications don’t make me “better” than the many talented photographers without degrees or certification—but they do give you an easy way to identify someone who has invested in mastering both the craft and the client experience.

And that brings us to why I photograph people.

We live in a world where advertising and social media distort our self-image. They amplify flaws, minimize individuality, and convince us to compare ourselves to impossible standards. Most people rarely—if ever—see themselves the way others truly see them.

My goal is to change that.

Every session is a collaboration. I use my technical knowledge, lighting expertise, and understanding of human expression to help clients see themselves with clarity and kindness—without distortion. The people who walk into my studio often see “flaws”; the people who walk out see strength, personality, and beauty that was always there.

There’s no magic trick in what I do. It’s communication, trust, and the skill to translate someone’s inner self into an image they’re proud to revisit for a lifetime. When we work together, the photographs we create aren’t just images—they’re reminders of who you truly are.