Bio
Way back before I ever thought about taking a photography course I studied architecture. I used to say that I
enjoyed the drafting because it was part creative and part technical. That was a bunch of crap! It was just an
excuse because I, like many people, was afraid to express my artistic side and didn’t think I could paint very
well. After taking my first photography course on a whim I had a revelation. The magic of the dark room made
me feel like an alchemist bringing pictures to life. I thought nothing could possibly be better - then digital
photography came along. I immediately jumped right into photo-retouching. I figured it was the best of both
worlds, you know, it was both creative and technical. Wait a minute didn’t we already determine that is a bunch
of crap. So why is it then that I love retouching so much? Ok, I admit it I am a little anal retentive. Ok maybe it
is a bit more than just a little anal retentive. As a friend once said it “You are the opposite of entropy!!!” So
my passion for photography and my craving to make things look perfect fit together to have me need to make
perfect pictures. Well once I admitted to myself why it was so natural for me to be a photo-retoucher I took as
many digital photography classes as I could. I am proud to say I have been fortunate to be able to study at the
best photography school in the country, Rochester Institute of Technology. And I have been taught by the man
who created the Digital Photography Department at RIT, Douglas Ford Rea. I have been doing retouching since
1993 when Photoshop was just a little 2.0 toddler. When I graduated I sent out my resume to photographers in
the New York City area. I could not understand the response I got. They all kept asking me about this “Digital
photography thing is it really the way of the future?” At the time I could not understand why they were asking
these questions. If I had a greater view of the big picture I would have said “No it is the way of the present.” A
lot of those photographers are out of business now but some of them have caught up and I congratulate them. It
is a lot of hard work. In my years as a retoucher I have worked for some of the most recognized companies in
the world, but it doesn’t matter to me who I work for as long as I know why. I have never forgotten why I
started or why I take such great pleasure in doing my job even though it is a lot of hard work some times. I
can’t help it, I like things perfect. Call it neurotic, call it compulsive, call it my job.
enjoyed the drafting because it was part creative and part technical. That was a bunch of crap! It was just an
excuse because I, like many people, was afraid to express my artistic side and didn’t think I could paint very
well. After taking my first photography course on a whim I had a revelation. The magic of the dark room made
me feel like an alchemist bringing pictures to life. I thought nothing could possibly be better - then digital
photography came along. I immediately jumped right into photo-retouching. I figured it was the best of both
worlds, you know, it was both creative and technical. Wait a minute didn’t we already determine that is a bunch
of crap. So why is it then that I love retouching so much? Ok, I admit it I am a little anal retentive. Ok maybe it
is a bit more than just a little anal retentive. As a friend once said it “You are the opposite of entropy!!!” So
my passion for photography and my craving to make things look perfect fit together to have me need to make
perfect pictures. Well once I admitted to myself why it was so natural for me to be a photo-retoucher I took as
many digital photography classes as I could. I am proud to say I have been fortunate to be able to study at the
best photography school in the country, Rochester Institute of Technology. And I have been taught by the man
who created the Digital Photography Department at RIT, Douglas Ford Rea. I have been doing retouching since
1993 when Photoshop was just a little 2.0 toddler. When I graduated I sent out my resume to photographers in
the New York City area. I could not understand the response I got. They all kept asking me about this “Digital
photography thing is it really the way of the future?” At the time I could not understand why they were asking
these questions. If I had a greater view of the big picture I would have said “No it is the way of the present.” A
lot of those photographers are out of business now but some of them have caught up and I congratulate them. It
is a lot of hard work. In my years as a retoucher I have worked for some of the most recognized companies in
the world, but it doesn’t matter to me who I work for as long as I know why. I have never forgotten why I
started or why I take such great pleasure in doing my job even though it is a lot of hard work some times. I
can’t help it, I like things perfect. Call it neurotic, call it compulsive, call it my job.
Resume
Work Experience:
Retoucher with Tiffany & Company’s Interactive Media Department, 2004-Present
Required skills: color correcting, compositing, image manipulation, masking, pathing, optimizing images for the internet, scanning, silhouettes.
Freelance Digital Imaging Technician, 2000-Present
Required skills: consulting with clients concerning imaging options, converting images, designing layouts, editing text, working on both Macintosh and PC platforms, retouching images of people, products and locations.
Clients:
• Time Magazine • Norkin Digital Art
• Doyle, Dane, Bernbach • Grey Health Care
• Lally, McFarland, Pantello, Questar • American Color
• Wechsler, Ross and Partners • Quad Graphics
• Digital Color Technologies • Newport News
• Graphic Systems Group • Lillian Vernon
Photography Lab. Technician at West Photographic Services, 1999-2000
Required skills: assessing images, interpreting clients’ needs and intentions, scanning from multiple media sources, all-inclusive retouching skills, file converting, printing to multiple media types, customer relations.
Digital Photography Professor at the County College of Morris, 1998-1999
Required skills: comprehensive knowledge of Photoshop, developing curriculum, communicating material, encouraging students’ problem-solving abilities, evaluating students’ potential, performance and progress.
Education:
Rochester Institute of Technology
• BFA in Applied Photography • Graduated with Honors 1997
• Grade Point Average 3.54 • Dean’s List 1995-1997
Additional Education:
Landmark Education
• Team Management and Leadership • Communication Course: Access to Power
• Self-Expression and Leadership • Advanced Communication Course: Power to Create