THE JOURNEY

My artistic journey started later than some at Louisiana State University.  After a few years of architecture and mechanical engineering studies, I took my first photography class as an elective and the rest is history.  The quietness and what seemed to be sheer magic that occurred in the old film darkroom created a passion for something I still chase today.  This may explain my genuine love for the timelessness of black and white photography.  The darkroom and development process is something I will always cherish as it dates through the history of the craft, something sadly many today will never realize.

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While at LSU, I joined the student media department where I first wet my feet in journalism and sports eventually leading to my role as photo editor as well as my first stitches and battle wounds after being run-over on the sidelines of a football game.  This eventually led to my work being published on TOPPs and Upper-Deck trading cards, billboards, and numerous magazine covers and articles.

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Shortly after I graduated in Fine Art Photography and Business from LSU, I was introduced to the world of video production and started my journey into TV production and expanding my skillset even further.  Back-track a few years and introduce Ray Lynch, then Marketing Director of Realtree Outdoors.  I was introduced to Ray by Rod Haydel of Haydel Duck Calls, a fabulous photographer himself.  Ray and I met at a Cracker Barrel in Slidell, LA as Ray drove to Venice, LA for a fishing trip.  Ray must have seen something in me and gave me my first ever paying photography gig shooting clothes for hang tags and ads for one of the largest camo manufacturers in the country.  I owe Ray more than this acknowledgment for sure!  After graduating LSU, I reached out to Ray and he introduced me to John Jackson of Total Vision HD, one of the best outdoor producers and editors I have known to date.  John gave me my first full-time job out of college and my journey in outdoor tv production still lives on to this day.  John also brought me full circle back to sports at LSU, where for the next 16 years I worked as a camera operator and replay operator on the LSU Sideboard crew, as well as a handful of years with the New Orleans Pelicans.

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As with life, all good things come to an end and new doors open.  While teaching a Final Cut Pro video editing class for Apple, I met Lawrence Green, one of the finest men I have ever had the pleasure to almost get eaten by lions with in Africa.  Lawrence, his son Julian, and myself spent the next year traveling the world together capturing and producing travel style documentaries including two standout trips to Zimbabwe and Israel.  With experiences ranging from the previous mentioned lion dinner to the live stations of the cross on Good Friday in the Old City of Jerusalem, a bond was created connecting the three of us for life.  I eventually went to work full-time for Lawrence's disaster management company where I ran his marketing department and traveled all over the country capturing storm damage and the incredible work our crews did putting towns and cities back together post-storm.  

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After my time spent storm chasing I opened my first studio in downtown Baton Rouge, a leap I remember being so scared to take but it paid off in folds.  It just so happens that Raising Canes, yes the One Love powerhouse of the fast food industry, had it's birth in Baton Rouge, LA and through a fellow student media graduate Kelly, I was given my first opportunity to expand my newly found business into corporate photography with the introduction to Todd Graves and Julie Perault.  Todd, his family, and all of those that worked for Canes back then were a special kind of people.  Todd gave me an opportunity that was special and for the next decade + I captured the rise of the fastest growing fast food brand in the country.  I watched Todd's kids grow up, met and photographed iconic people like Chuck Norris, Snoop Dog, Nelli, Flo-Rida, Better Than Ezra and perhaps the biggest star of them all Raising Cane the dog.  I captured what seemed like every iconic moment and stepping stone for the brand for the next decade as well as puppy calendars and other things to raise money for charities to give back to communities like Todd so proudly does.

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The next chapter of the ever-changing career led to the creation of Zydeco Studios and the opening of two different product focused studios shooting for brands I could never have imagined doing work for as I drove so nervously to that first meeting with Ray more than 20 years prior.  The current Zydeco journey has led me all over the country for the most incredible projects you can imagine.  The Indianapolis 500, multiple years of interviewing ever driver in IndyCar, Overlanding adventures, Music City Grand Prix, and short doc series featuring Jimmy Johnson and Dillon Carmichael for Bridgestone/Firestone Tires, product shoots for brands like Dove, Cellular, Coast and what seems like 100's of others, and industrial shoots for Exxon, CRH-Old Castle Infrastructure, Arcosa, ASPIRE, and Mueller.  I hope to keep expanding on this as I push forward bringing experience and artistry into this sector.

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I have begun to identify a true passion for storytelling as myself and career develop.  I have been recently pursuing tourism and and small town features where I can use the art of storytelling to share the uniqueness of places and inspiring others to join in exploring them.  Having been raised in south Louisiana my entire life, I have a passion for the Atchafalaya Basin and people like CC Lockwood have inspired me to help keep it on the map and elevate it to the likes of the Yellowstones and Yosemites of the world.  Every town has a uniqueness I'd love to explore and create stories around.  Stay tuned as I have a feeling this may lead to books and maybe even a tv series in the near future.  While social may be the current king, I truly believe people are drawn to good stories and beautiful imagery!