What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on? Tell us the backstory so we understand circumstances/context and why it’s meaningful to you.

I think that would be my Skull series. When my father passed away way too young after a long and painful battle with cancer, I decided life was too short not to do what you love. I really threw myself into pushing my art and photography in the pursuit of ultimately becoming a full time artist.

I became obsessed with mortality and our journey, and out of those feelings my skull series was born. I began to create characters with skulls for faces, that represented that in the end that we are all the same and ultimately face the same demise. And many of my close and dear friends became my models in this series in an attempt to help me deal with the loss of my father.

Then one day, I was crying, praying, and missing my dad. That night, I asked my father for a sign to let me know that I was on the right track. And the very next morning, a bit before noon, I received a call from a friend stating that the CW’s hit show The Vampire Diaries wanted use my skull photos to represent a photographer character on the show! To this day, it is still one of my proudest and coolest artistic accomplishments.

I grew up watching old school black and white horror movies with my father, and thought for sure this was the sign I was praying for. The greatest and most iconic vampire character is of course Dracula, and he was my favorite. Having the chance to have my work on a show about vampires was surely a dream come true and an exciting connection to my childhood and dad. One of my most cherished memories growing up was dressing up as Dracula for Halloween, in an incredible costume my mom made me. No ordinary store bought mask costume, like most had back then… I’m talking full stage make-up, movie studio blood, and a stunning black cape with a red collar and gold buttons. I even have a treasured old vintage photo of my father kneeling down as I bite his neck dressed in my treasured garb.

I grew up with The Twilight Zone and Creature Feature, The Photographs of Time Life and Vogue Magazines, LP Records and Mixed Tapes, and MTV Videos. I love that we all have two sides, and explore Contrast & Juxtaposition, Light & Dark, Black & White, Life & Death, Beauty & Darkness, Past & Future. I explore life and our human voyage. I explore mortality and our journey.

My main form of artistic expression is photography and I express myself through abstracts, landscape, still life, and portraiture. I am deeply influenced by my film and photography idols (Alfred Hitchcock & Herb Ritts), as well as my advertising background. I am a fond and complete believer in the adage “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

My heritage and growing up in South Florida are very prominent in my work. The tropical cultural and physical histories of our region serve as endless inspiration in my creative endeavors. Although most of my more recent work consists of architectural, nature, botanical, and still life images, I’m still an avid fanatic for creative fine art photographic portraiture. Whether that is vintage pinup and beefcake shots, anything fashion or editorial, celebrity promos or headshots, iconic advertising, elaborate and glamorous images, and most beauty and lifestyle pictures.

I love work that is dramatic, iconic, and sometimes even quirky. I’m especially fond of staged settings, superb lighting, vivid colors, and high contrast black & white. And aside from photography’s most iconic photographer Ansel Adams, I’m a big fan of Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, Herb Ritts, Bruce Weber, Sante D’Orazio, Steven Meisel, David Lachapelle, Patrick Demarchelier, Diane Arbus, Cindy Sherman, Ellen Von Enwerth, Eve Arnold, Pamela Hanson, and Annie Leibovitz.

Connecting and touching with others all over the world is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative for me. Having my work on the biggest billboard in Times Square was an incredible experience. Exhibiting in foreign places I’ve visited, like Great Britain or Greece, always gives me a thrill. I’m even more astonished when I have opportunities to show my work in places I’ve never even been, like Scotland, Italy, or The Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

Just the thought of knowing that I have my work and a little piece of me in the homes and businesses of many is a feeling that I can’t even begin to describe. That goes the same for stuff owned or enjoyed by close friends or customers and collectors that I have never met in person. The realization that my work is in places like the Philippines or Hong Kong really blows my mind sometimes.

Comprehending that others relate or appreciate my work gives me the strength and courage to continue creating, even on those days that you think you are just about to give up or throw in the towel. Receiving an email informing me of a sale and where it was bought, which is one of the perks of selling on websites like Minted, always seems to make my day.

As an artist, there is nothing more exciting or moving than when someone appreciates and/or admires your work. Whether it is a congratulations on an award or recognition, a thanks for a particular piece of work, or a comment on how one of your images makes someone feel or react. Even imitation, which is one of the best forms of flattery, in certain situations can be an exhilarating feeling. I can’t count the number of times someone has told me I’ve inspired them to pursue photography or get back into it.