I was born in Japan in 1976, and my family moved shortly after to San Diego. It was there in a little suburb called Imperial Beach where I grew up surfing and photographing. I credit both my Dad and Mom for giving birth to the passion of photography that consumes my life. My Dad used to take us camping when I was a kid, which developed my affinity for the natural world, and my Mom supported my film and camera equipment addiction
It was in high school that my connection to photography really took off. We were fortunate to have a darkroom at our school. And I would spend an hour a day printing and developing my negatives that I had taken a week before. When I wasn’t photographing, (or surfing, or swimming for our team) I would be reading books on Ansel Adams, or Edward Weston, or Paul Strand.
In college, not quite sure I would end up making a profession out of photography, I opted to study Architecture as a profession. To this day my goal is to become a Licensed Architect, and I currently consult for local Architects here in Austin.
In 2001 I decided that I could pursue both careers if I put my mind to it. I formed my unique Fine Art Portraiture style and created that as the basis for my new professional photography career. My panoramic photographs that blend subject into nature were very successful and many shows were held at galleries and salons in San Diego. They also won awards at the Del Mar Fair photo competition.
A natural jump from the portraiture work was to get into wedding photography. I began shooting in 2002. I dropped the large format camera and tripod in favor of digital equipment. Even in 2003 digital was not the defacto format as it is now. But I saw the future, and knew it was not with film.
The tsunami of 2004 was a big moment in my life. Watching the news footage and the death toll climb, I knew that there was something I had to do. After hearing about a fellow that was going to Thailand to help out, I decided that I should go and use my Architectural background to help.
The experience was life changing! I lived in Thailand for an entire year while helping others re-establish their lives. I kept a blog of my Thailand Adventures. Feel free to read them.
When I moved back to the States, I made my way to Austin, Texas where I enjoyed plenty of good BBQ, Chicken Fried Steak and some great live music while photographing, but after three and a half years away from the ocean, felt the strong pull back to my San Diego roots.
So as of July 2009, I have officially become a San Diegan again. I’m blessed to be back near my friends and family, and the ocean I grew up next to. I’m also so happy to be working on growing my photography business, and making great images for people on their wedding day.
