ABOUT US

Jared’s Story:

I’ve had a passion for photography since I was a young child. I remember the first time I was bit by the photography bug, I was on a family vacation in Charleston, South Carolina. I saw a smoke stack in the distance, and wished I could get a better look. That’s when my Mom handed me her Contax film camera with a 300mm lens attached. I remember loving not only how I could get a better look in the distance, but also looking through the viewfinder at the focus points and exposure meter. It made me feel like I was piloting a fighter jet! 

One of my Dad’s favorite things to do is go thrift store shopping. When he would take me with him, I would immediately go to the section where they would have the old cameras. Sometimes, he would let me pick one out. I knew nothing about the art of photography at that time, but I knew what I liked. I loved the sound of the auto-rewinders. I would feel specific shutter buttons to find the textures that I liked. The more bright writing or lights on the camera, the more it attracted me. My absolute favorite camera as a child was my Olympus AF-10, better known as the Infinity Jr. Unfortunately, I no longer have it, which is a shame considering it’s gained in popularity over the years.

In high school, my focus went away from photography, and more to amateur video production. When I got my first part time job at 16, whatever money was not going to gas or concert tickets, I was spending on cameras. I recorded films, and would save them to DVDs. Unfortunately, almost all of them have either been lost or destroyed.

In 2013 I started getting more serious about photography. I didn’t just want to take pictures, but I wanted to figure out how to take GOOD pictures that people would enjoy looking at. So I bought a cheap DSLR (Canon Rebel XT if you’re interested) and set out to learn. I read blogs, I watched videos, and I took pictures, A LOT of pictures.  But I just couldn’t figure out how to make my images look good. Out of frustration I sold the small amount of gear I had acquired, and decided to give up photography. Almost immediately after selling, I regretted my decision. You can never truly tell how much of a passion you have for something until it’s no longer available to you. Thankfully, just a few short months later, I found an amazing deal on another XT and lens, and I went to work once again. The time out was actually really good for me, as many of the technical hurdles I couldn’t get past before were easily conquered this time around. That’s when I knew I wanted to do this as more than just a hobby.

In 2014, when we were living in Columbia, SC, we hired a local photographer to capture our engagement and wedding. I spoke with him about what it would take to get into photography professionally, and he agreed to bring me along for some future weddings. Soon I was shooting alongside him every wedding, and attending wedding vendor events with him. He not only gave me a platform that launched the rest of my career, but to this day he’s still a good friend. I worked alongside him and his wife for almost a year, before moving to Houston, TX and setting out on my own.

In Houston, my career really took off. Thankfully, I made some amazing connections right off the bat, and their support helped me get established in the fourth largest city in the US. From photographing extravagant multi-cultural weddings, to United States Supreme Court Justices, to billionaires, I had many unforgettable experiences. If you want to see a list of my previous clients, please check here. But more important than who I met or photographed, was the wealth of knowledge I gained while living there. Houston has a very underrated photography scene, and I had a host of mentors that were willing to help teach me and show me the ropes / inner workings of different photography genres. I was able to take the knowledge I was given, and pass that on. Before eventually leaving, I was able to start teaching lighting workshops and help other photographers improve their craft. In total, we were in Houston just about 4 years.

And now, as of December 2018, I’m here, in the beautiful Appalachian mountains of East Tennessee. I’m more excited than ever to see where this next chapter takes me.