Looking back on 2023
2023 was a year of career transition, travel, and many firsts.
Starting the slowest point of the year by getting a series of messages linking me to a call that led to a quick interview with a photographer and now friend, Jennifer Clasen, for a role on a feature film in Cincinnati. I ended up getting hired and the position started right away. I would be hopping into the middle of my first feature film as a digitech. Oh, did I mention it’s starring Debra Messing and Robert De Niro! 🤯
I photographed my last booked wedding in February marking a significant change in the direction of my photographic career since beginning my journey back in college where weddings and working with Louisville Magazine were my main outlets. Not that I haven’t gotten inquiries and requests since then, haha.
I can’t thank Rachel Waters and Dean Lavenson enough. They provided me the opportunity to jump into this crazy field of commercial photography. If it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be where I am now. I’ve been lucky enough to work with Rachel on multiple projects this year such as Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, and Texas Roadhouse.
In the early spring, I put in a bid for photography and won a project working with Jefferson’s Bourbon and Pernod Ricard for a new bottle release capturing a private event, product, and portraits.
A huge thank you for all the work and helping a shift in my career to Clay Cook who I work with regularly. You can find Clay’s year review and a whole lot of BTS of our crew and me here, Clay's Review. I work with Clay mainly as a digitech, I’ve been given opportunities to do photography and social video content for Kentucky Tourism and social video content for US Tourism. You can find the work we do for Kentucky Tourism here (I have a few images published here as well!): Kentucky 2024 Visitor's Guide
I worked on projects for Visit Lake Charles, Benjamin Moore, Kenmark-Eyewear, and KMAC Couture as a digitech. I covered social media video work for Kentucky Tourism. In the summer I worked a job for Visit Alaska as a digitech and my first time visiting the state. In the fall we had a project in Tampa, FL with Big Ass Fans where I was brought on as a digitech. And working on a project with Anchal, his wife and sister-in-law’s nonprofit organization.
In the summer my family and I traveled to California to have the Napa Valley experience, see the Red Woods, and follow the northern California coast which would be my first time visiting that part of California.
I grew my first green beans and continued my plant craze.
Down in Fulton, KY I photographed a Banana Festival for Kentucky Tourism. Yes, you read that correctly. I’d like you all to meet Mr. Peel.
J Michael’s Salon and Spa was kind enough to work with me on social media videos for their business. J Michael's Spa and Salon Hydrafacial, J Michael's Spa and Salon Hair Extensions.
The fall is when I pushed my limit on travel which I already do a great deal of for work alone. I went to Cedar Point for the first time on a friend’s trip and rode some wild coasters. I was brought on a project in New Orleans working for the NFL as a digitech. I traveled to NYC for the first time to explore, meet great people in the industry, and take photos for my portfolio. I went on a paintball trip called Fulda Gap in North Carolina with friends of mine. I reconnected with my best friend from childhood, Tommy, and my new close friend and talented photographer, Jennifer Clasen, in LA while burning through a bunch of rolls of 35mm film.
I’m sure I’ve missed something or someone in trying to remember all of what this past year has been but I’m grateful for all of those I’ve been able to work with, share experiences with, and learn from. I’ve spent my recent time resetting, organizing, and cleaning to help clear my head and reset for 2024.
