When a Navy recruiter asked me what I liked to do, I told him, "I like to DJ."

And that's where my career as a photographer began ... kind of. See, the military sent me to a journalism school to study broadcast journalism, print journalism, and there was a two-week course in photography. You'd think this is where my interest began, but you'd be wrong. I failed the photography portion. I had an immense dislike for it. But I wasn't worried, because I was going to be a radio DJ. 

When it came time to fill out my "dream sheet" of military bases I wanted to go to, I picked Souda Bay, Crete, Cuba and Puerto Rico — all islands with radio stations. I was sent to Washington, D.C. to work at a military newspaper. 

Let's just say my time spent in the military got me on the path to photography once I realized the images I made were visual, historical documentation to be saved and shared by individuals and families for decades. As a radio DJ, I played music and read the weather. There was no comparison — I was hooked on photography.

That was 1995. Ever since then I've been dedicated to continually progressing my documentary abilities.

The hard work has paid off too. This is where I brag a little about myself. I've won 37 Associated Press awards for my photography, I've been published in magazines, newspapers and various documentary-focused websites around the world.

Now I bring this experience to my wedding photography where I focus my energies in capturing those quite, fleeting moments that add up to make your wedding day special.

Whether it's a engagement portrait session or a wedding day — I'm always drawing on my years of experience to find the best way to highlight the people who I'm lucky enough to photograph.