Photography as Cross-Training: Finding Beauty Across Disciplines

Somewhere along the way, I was told that the riches are in the niches.

Pick ONE thing to photograph.
Stay there.
Become known for it.

Shoot Weimaraner dogs.
Shoot beverage product photography.
Photograph babies as flowers
And so on…

But the truth is, I don’t experience my work in separate categories.

I experience it as seeing.

I find calm in nature. When I walk through the woods or stand at the edge of a frozen lake, something settles inside me. The noise softens. The chaos organizes itself. Shooting in nature teaches me how to make order out of complexity — to find structure in wildness. That skill translates directly into architecture photography. Buildings are ideas made visible. They deserve to be seen with clarity and intention.

Stillness.

Big Papi at a ribbon cutting in Cambridge, MA

When I photograph events, it’s the opposite environment. Movement. Unpredictability. Energy. There’s no time to overthink. Events build a different muscle — the ability to recognize genuine moments and move toward the right light without hesitation. A laugh breaking open. A quiet handshake. A look that says everything. That awareness shapes the way I approach portraits and headshots. I’m not just arranging someone in good light; I’m waiting for something real to surface.

Timing.

Darryl McDaniels from Run DMC

When I photograph products, I’m thinking about precision. Texture. Edge control. Color accuracy. How light wraps and defines. That same discipline shows up when I photograph architecture — the way contrast defines a space, the way shadow gives weight to form.

Across all of it — headshots, events, products, portraits, architecture — I keep one caption quietly in mind:

“I found this moment. I want to share it with you.”

That’s the thread.

My Instagram feed might look eclectic to someone scrolling quickly. A moody forest. A strong architectural line. A portrait in contrasty light. An event full of movement. But to me, it’s cohesive. I’m always seeking strong color, decisive light, emotional presence. Not every frame is dramatic. Not every space is bold. But I lean toward work that feels alive.

Connected.

Yes, I’ve felt the pressure to specialize narrowly. I’ve heard the advice. I understand the strategy. And I respect photographers who choose a singular path.

But my work has grown at the intersections.

Nature teaches me order.
Events teach me timing.
Portraits teach me empathy.
Products teach me control.
Architecture teaches me intention.

Each discipline strengthens the others.

At the core of it all is something simple: I see beauty in the world, and it matters deeply to me to share it. That isn’t a marketing strategy. It’s a motivation.

If you’re building something meaningful — a space, a brand, a gathering, a team — and you want it seen with clarity and care, I’d love to help tell that story.

Because no matter the subject, I’m doing the same thing I’ve always done.

Finding something worth noticing.

And sharing it.