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About

 
Jackson and Anna playing on a laptop.
Jackson and Anna playing on a laptop.

I’m glad you’ve taken an interest in finding out a little about me. I’m going to share with you where I’m from, how I came to love photography and why I have chosen weddings, events and portraits as my as my focus.

I was raised in the southern suburbs of Cleveland and moved to the East side when I got married in 2006. My wife’s name is Anna and she grew up about two blocks from where we now live. She’s what I call “super-Italian.” On March 3, 2007, our son Jackson Antonio was born. Jackson is now what our life is about. He fills every day with joy and love, and he makes the best photo subject a dad could ever want.

 I have had many interests in life, but only one real passion. Creating art has been an important part of my life since I can remember. Drawing, painting and eventually photography consumed my time and energy for years. Whether I was drawing or painting, people were always the subject my work. Portraits held my interest and not much else. While I have always enjoyed

photography, it was through portrait painting that I truly fell in love with it. Taking high-quality photographs of my clients became a necessity. I found myself investing more and more time (and money) into the photography end, and less into the painting. Although I found peace in painting, and certainly a sense of importance (because it is so difficult), photography fit my personality much better. I appreciate the immediateness of it, and the ability to take a creative concept, execute it and print it the same day. I also love the interaction with people, and of course, the gear itself. Gear is fun. 

 I’m admittedly a pretty sentimental person and I’m touched by symbolism. That’s why I naturally gravitate towards wedding photography. There’s a lot of people, emotion and symbols.  A wedding is a joyous occasion and I thoroughly enjoy the environment, regardless of how big or small the event. One of my favorite weddings included only five people, counting the priest.
  
My photography style is a bit of a blend of photojournalism and traditional, but mostly because that’s what is preferred. The photojournalist part is what I like the best. I look at what I do more as “documenting” rather than influencing. It’s the unscripted moments that have a truly emotional impact when viewed after the fact because it’s 100% real and genuine. Those are the moments that I strive to see. I also enjoy the action of wedding photography. It can be fast-paced, exciting and physically demanding. But by far, the best part about being a wedding photographer is seeing the emotional impact my images have on my wonderful couples and their families. I honestly can’t think of another job that could give me the kind of personal satisfaction I get when I see the happiness on people’s faces as they point and laugh and cry while looking through their proofs or albums.  
 

I can’t wait for the next one!

Oil painting of my wife. It was painted off of a photograph taken by Steven Mastroianni.
Oil painting of my wife. It was painted off of a photograph taken by Steven Mastroianni.
Mother Teresa (charcoal)
Mother Teresa (charcoal)
Principal in Mayfield School District (retired) - Oil on canvas

Principal in Mayfield School District (retired) - Oil on canvas