Perception is a funny thing. For instance, I'm pretty sure at your first encounter with me and my photography, you would assume that I came directly out of the gate with the intention to photograph models, and probably for all the wrong reasons. I wouldn't find that to be an unfair assumption either. I mean, I am admittedly a hell-raising, beer-drinking, die-hard metal head and I could see how an affinity for being in the company of beautiful women might be a natural transition, right? Well, friends and readers, that perception could not be further from the truth.

Here’s the short version of my backstory: I got into photography in 2011 after being inspired by my wedding photographer, Janet Howard. She was, and still is, absolutely amazing! After my son was born in 2013, I purchased my first Canon Rebel camera with a kit lens, and that was it. It had begun.

You know the middle bit. You've heard it 100 times from 100 different photographers: I took photos of my son, then friends wanted me to do it for them and their families, blah blah blah. I was destined to become the next latte sipping, flannel and khakis wearing, family-in-the park photographer; imminent destiny looming over my head with perfectly veneered and sharpened teeth. Fortunately, for the sake of my immortal soul, I quickly discovered that what I was finding the most beguiling about the features of my camera were off-camera flash, the exposure triangle, the use of OCF and all of the things not needed in a pumpkin patch at 2pm. I needed studio work.

I don't struggle with pride issues. I've never in my life been too proud to ask for the things that I want, but when I saw a studio in downtown Buford, GA; I became an outright beggar. I would actually stand outside of the studio, waiting for photographers to come out, and beseech them to let me come in and watch and learn. You see, I'm a hands-on learner. Video and text will never provide the enrichment I need to develop, so I simply HAD to find mentors to help me learn about THE LIGHT. I yearned for it in a way that was somewhat unsettling. After a few rejections, a photographer by the name of Jeremy Barton agreed to let me in and show me around. He was working on a headshot session that day using a beauty dish and a reflector and told me I could sit in and watch. I still remember that experience like it happened yesterday. It was truly a pivotal moment in my photography career and I will forever be grateful to Jeremy for allowing me that day of tutelage.

So, after taking all of my new experiences in, an unsolicited opportunity came to me: a local modeling agency reached out to the studio and asked if they would host a group shoot with some of their young and fresh talent to get them used to being around photographers, as well as to see if some of the young and fresh photographers wanted to be involved. You know, one of those win-win situations that might end in disaster but is definitely going to be a great learning experience all around. I jumped at the opportunity. Luckily, there were a handful of seasoned photographers and models there to help coach and guide us should we have questions, but to my inexperienced mind, it felt like utter chaos. I mean, there I am awkwardly attempting to pose a model for the first time ever in my life and she’s just looking at me for directions and I’m a deer in headlights. Ah, there's really nothing like the first time, is there? Thankfully, the shoot was long enough that my stress eventually burned off and I started to find a groove with a modicum of comfort.

When it was all over, the agency decided to use some of my images from that shoot (and have actually worked with me a couple times since.) I felt so incredibly honored that they thought my images worthy of their campaigns. At that moment I realized that I might, for the first time in my life, be “okay” at something. In 37 years, I had NEVER known that feeling and I'll tell you what, it felt pretty great. I knew that I still had a very long way to go and so much more to learn, and I was READY for it; but I digress as usual.

If your perception is that I got into this for the "models" you're dead wrong. I've made some great friends at those shoots, don't get me wrong, but if you want to know where my passions lie, they've always been with lighting, photography itself, and photo editing. The way we can shape light around a person’s face and get beautiful results was, and remains to this day, absolutely fascinating to me. Light can control mood, it can tell a story; it has a POWER that defies reason, and that’s all I've ever cared about. I've never been able to get enough of it. I’ve always shied away from the word "art," (maybe because of the artsy-fartsy gate-keepers that imbue the word with such pretension and hollowness) but that is exactly what it felt like to me, and I needed a canvas.

I reached out to friends, friends of friends, anyone I could access, and invited them to the studio for portraits so I could practice and play with lighting. I was at the studio EVERY DAY. That’s when it became a problem at home, as new passions are wont to do. You see, my wife didn’t quite understand my new fascination and maybe this was only MY perception, but I felt that she saw what the typical outsider looking in would see: an unskilled newbie “photographer” taking "artistic" photos of women. I mean, you can imagine what I sounded like trying to explain to a woman who just had a baby, that I was “in it for the lighting”. It even felt like a line when I was saying it, but it was the unblemished truth. I was obsessed and still am. Maybe the obsession arose from finally feeling like I was good at something or maybe I'm obsessive by nature. Yeah, that's probably true. I’m definitely obsessed with perfecting my craft, lighting, photography, editing, etc. and after nearly 10 years of this, my wife finally has an understanding, and even an appreciation for my work....plus, it helps that we get a paycheck from it now.

So maybe next time you have a quick perception about a photographer, remember my story. Sometimes what looks like a duck is a duck, but sometimes it's just a guy on a spirit quest to harness the magic of light. Oh, and a side note that I would be remiss to not mention: there has been a huge and unexpected take away from my experience working with models: CONFIDENCE. I have found it to be absolutely inspiring. I know you may be thinking "Duh, Maq....they’re models, of course they have confidence” but you see, I did not, and they helped me tremendously with mine. I now get to pay that forward and help show all types of women and clients that they too can be confident. No one has to be a "model" to be beautiful, they just have to be themselves. That knowledge will forever be your most attractive angle. The proof is in the pudding, and I'll let you in on a little secret: Out of all of these beautiful and confident women you see in my portfolio, only three or four of them are actual professional models. Everyone else is just you, me, and the light.

How I got started in fashion & glamour photography

MY FIRST YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

my journey into concert photography