How did you get into photography/videography? 

It all really started in High-school, I had taken a drawing/composition class and I really enjoyed learning how to put scenes together. As I didn't have any money or support for the hobby of photography so I felt I needed to channel into another creative medium, which turned out to be writing. After I graduated and started working I kept taking smartphone pictures to accompany my poems or short stories on IG and I kept falling back in love with photography. Finally before a trip to New York with my family I splurged on a Olympus Tg-4 point and shoot. It really ignited the bug in me. My job situation changed and I suddenly had money to put into a decent camera and a few high end lenses. From there I started doing landscapes here and there, but finally I stepped into portraiture.

What did you first use to take photos?

My first non-phone camera was the Olympus Tg-4, but really I didn't know anything about iso, shutter speed, or any other photo terms and rules. I outgrew the Tg-4 pretty quickly moved on to the Panasonic Gx8 with 4 lenses the Olympus 40-150mm f2.8, the Panaleica Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2, the Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 and the Panaleica 100-400mm. From there I had basically full coverage, and no excuses.

Where did you go to school? Do you have any formal training/self taught?

Youtube and mistakes taught me everything I know about photography along with the local Balf-price Books

Do you have any nicknames?  How did you get that name?

Everyone calls me Bird, it started when I was little my mother used to call me Jaybird, it stuck with me and a few good friends always called me that. Now as a artist I noticed that I tended to not sit still as artist, I always change style or try new types of photography so I thought the name Bird still quite appropriate.

If you could take photos of any 3 people who would it be?

Oddly enough my #1 pick would be Post Malone, I think its great that he has found success at a young age and I think he seems a genuine soul.

#2 Allie clark

#3 Any professional Ballet artist at this point

If you could take photos of any 3 people that are no longer living who would they be?

#1-Vincent Van Gogh

#2-Ansel Adams

#3-Alexandre Dumas

I would love to connect with these great artist and capture a moment of them, and sit at their feet to just to learn from the masters of surrealism and abstraction, wildness and genius.

If you could take photos in any 3 cities what would they be?
#1-Tokyo

#2-Paris

#3-London

What is your goal when you capture photos of someone?

For a long time I thought it was to capture a piece of them, a little inkling of their soul. But in all honesty it really about their reaction to you how they can be molded into a shared vision and dream. I want them to be my masterpiece when they're in front of my camera. I want their flaws and their beauty on display. So that I can blend them into something that can evoke emotion or a response.

What music do you listen to when you edit photos?

Honestly as I'm partially deaf, I don't listen to much when I'm editing, If I ever do it's usually just a melange of a bunch different styles usually alot lyric based music, I feel that guides the emotions and the color grading better.

What's your favorite app on your phone?

I don't have a particular favorite, though is time usage is the determinant factor, it would be a tie between Lightroom CC Mobile or Netflix.

What is your dream as a photographer?

To be known, as a artist and entrepreneur.

And somewhere along the line find a worthy cause to support. I also want to encourage young artist and photographers and provide them options to use the best equipment and learn the editing process without having their creativity quashed by industry standards.

What is some advice you would give to someone with a dream to be a photographer/videographer?
Do you, take pictures of what you like. Learn the basics of how to operate not the basics of how to create. And don't think you'll make it right away, but if you work it'll come.

Where can people find you? (social media, website, etc)

IG @birdisthename

Website birdisthename.com