Wouldn’t it be great if life gave us many more “aha!” moments? Those moments of “this is the right thing to do,” be it choosing the right home, car, date, life partner or career? Career – that’s a biggie. I was blessed with such a moment when I decided to choose photography (at least for a year) while also considering a career in law. I went to college and got my degree in marketing. That qualifies you for a sales job, of which I had several. Coming to terms with the fact that jobs aren’t all that great, I was in search of my career. Well, why not go back to school? Law intrigued me. So I took the Kaplan Course, passed the LSAT, got accepted into the school of my choice, took a breath, and then was confronted with my creative side and outside observers who said “Why not be a photographer? You have way more than a passing interest and talent.” Hmm… I guess if others were making a living doing that, so could I! So why not do it? I’d try this out and have law school to fall back on. Well, that was the “aha” moment. I immediately began answering the “What do you do?” question with “I am a photographer.” Wham…I started getting inquires left and right for jobs. I hadn’t even begun my photo training with my guru Heinz Richter. I knew enough to get in trouble, but also to seek coaching from the master. Often! But I definitely possessed the eye and the gift for this craft.

This image stands to this day as an “aha” moment/image. My first paid portrait session, and an image that to this day remains one of my favorites (and many other folks’ as well). It was even requested and sold at an event at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. I still have it on my wall to serve as something of a talisman. I hope one day to track this young man down (now no doubt in his twenties) and recreate this timeless shot!