Good day all, I hope this finds you all well today. First off, many apologies for no blog entries since last December. Work got incredibly busy for me for three-plus months with various assignments for various clients. And frankly, that strain and constant crush of work was pretty brutal from mid-March onward, but as of May 19^th, I’m done for a little while and am ready to enjoy the summer. That and watch a lot of sports on TV.

Anyways, enough exposition, time for the meat of this entry. For years, many people have been asking me how I got into photography and for advice on how to make it in the industry and make it profitable. That topic has been a point of contention for many years, especially since photography is almost exclusively digital now, for better or worse. But really, it comes down to about five simple things: Have realistic goals, be open to all genres, be smart with your money, be willing to sacrifice and be respectful to others. And despite what goes on in some parts of the industry, those simple standards can prove to be very beneficial in your long-term exploits.

Point by Point:

· * It’s best to be realistic about what you want to do with photography, be it keeping it as a weekend hobby or wanting to do it full-time. Have goals, but be realistic about them. Be sincere about keeping photography as a hobby or wanting more out of it because there’s no in-between.

· * Don’t limit yourself to just one photographic genre. The best photographers are multi-talented, and while they specialize in one field, they’re capable of variety as well (i.e. portraits, sports, with or without flash, etc.). And a well-versed background can lead to big experiences.

· * With any business, money is huge, and photography is no exception, in terms of income and equipment. Regarding income, SAVE YOUR EARNINGS, which goes without saying, and it sort of segues into the second part regarding equipment, only purchase what you will regularly use.  

· * The road to success is a LONG one, and there will be a lot of long days and, if necessary, LONGER nights. Photography isn’t just regarding shooting, it involves location scouting, driving to and from locales, meeting with clients, and editing, LOTS of editing. Even if you want to pursue photography just part-time, be prepared to give up gobs of your time.

· * With all things in life, it’s best to have a passion for it, and in photography you can express that passion in your images. But regarding the business side, especially when expanding a client base, be respectful of other photographers and their positions. Undercutting is a nasty and rather unnecessary part of the business, so if you’re starting out or wanting to do more, don’t look to “screw someone over” for any reason, as that is not beneficial to ANYONE involved.

All these points have been brought up before many times by many other photographers, some of whom have many greater experiences than I, but I hope these points prove informative for anyone looking to pursue photography, even if it’s a weekend fun-thing or a life-long profession.

I think I’ve gone on long enough, so I’ll end this entry here. I hope everyone has a great summer. Thanks for the attention, and until next time, fare thee well.

Greetings and salutations all, I hope this finds you well and with your loved ones this holiday season. December has proven to be a busy month, yet productive as well. The denouement of 2013 was one to remember, mainly because of three football games I covered. First was the Conference USA Football Championship between Rice University and Marshall. The game itself was memorable for two reasons: 1) Rice won the game in dominant and stunning fashion over Marshall, 41-17, for their first outright conference championship since 1957; 2) the game was played in viciously frigid conditions, around 36 degrees at kickoff. With a steady north wind blowing, it pushed the temperature well below freezing through the course of the game. It was easily the coldest sporting event I’ve ever covered. But it was worth it to cover an immense accomplishment by the Rice Owls.

The other two football games from December that I enjoyed covering were the final two home games of the Houston Texans’ 2013 season, first featuring the New England Patriots and three weeks later, the Denver Broncos. Of course, all the attention (mine included) was focused on the visiting teams’ quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Both QBs were magnificent in their victories, especially Manning, who broke (or rather, reclaimed) the NFL’s record for most passing touchdowns in a regular season. But it was very cool to shoot the two greatest quarterbacks in this generation, especially with another head-to-head postseason meeting looming.

The whole month has been rather interesting for me, but I see it as the culmination of the last two-plus years of my professional life, not just to be able to rebuild things and take them to the next level, but to be able to have rather epic days via my craft. And I’ve had a year’s worth of epic days since April 2012. My hope is that it continues in 2014 and onward. And that is my wish for everyone, to pursue your dreams no matter how difficult. I know I’ve said that many times, but that is a sincere hope for everyone in this crazy-as-heck world.

And with that, thank you all for the attention and the support, and all the best to you this holiday season and a Happy 2014. Until next time, fare thee well!

Good day all, I hope this finds everyone well today. Today is a rather special day for me, as it’s my birthday…….my 35^th birthday. For many adults, it’s no real concern, just another day. For me, it’s a day to be sure, but it’s a chance to reflect upon the last 12 months of my life, and it’s been an absolute roller-coaster of an adventure, wrapped up in multiple enigmas.

Looking back on where I was a year ago, I had no real direction and purpose in my life. Well, I did but I had no idea where I wanted to go with it all. But in taking advantage of a big opportunity that presented itself, I completely change my life. Aside from the financial improvement, I feel like within my craft, I can accomplish anything. In the last year, I’ve been printed in Sports Illustrated FIVE times, secured my positions with Rice and Houston Baptist and totally re-defined and revitalized my business. While I’m exhausted with the weekly crushes of work, I wouldn’t trade where I am right now for anything.

I do look back on where I was a year ago, and while I miss certain individuals and settings, most notably the student-athletes of Lutheran South Academy, I am confident that those same people would be proud of where I am now and what I have achieved in the past 12 months, well, MOST of the people, not all. For all those who were detrimental, disrespectful and dishonest towards me for so long………I sincerely thank you. I hold no malice towards any of you, but you’ve given me the confidence and fire to live my life my own way and achieve my goals amidst the cancer, toxicity, poison and laziness spewed out. And for those who believed in me when I lost faith in myself, words can’t express how grateful I am to you, especially three very special people who have touched my life and actually SHOWED that anything in life is possible.

One more thing, last year on my birthday, it was my sincere hope that people could come together and make the world a better place to live in. I do apologize for that unrealistic and Disney-themed bullshit. If I have one thing to pass along this time around, it’s this: If you have a dream, make it come true no matter what. If you have people in your life who love you, love them back with all your heart (within reason) and be honest. If things or people make you unhappy or frustrated in your life, fucking cut them loose and don’t look back. To loosely quote Marshall Mathers, “life’s too short to not go for broke."

And that’s that, thanks to everyone for the Happy Birthday wishes, and I hope to have another eventful 35 years, maybe longer. Take care, thank you all and fare thee well.