BEHIND THE LENS

I was born and raised in Minnesota, where I spent much of my childhood getting into trouble. At 15, I was arrested for the first time for writing graffiti. I didn’t see a future for myself in education or art, so in 2009, I joined the United States Air Force as a senior in high school and was soon stationed in South Korea, working in logistics. While living in Seoul, I learned the art of tattooing—an experience that validated my need to create and deepened my appreciation for different cultures.

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My next assignment brought me to Italy, where I began selling paintings and traveling to new countries, immersing myself in art and design. After leaving active duty, I chose to pursue art full time while transitioning into the Air Force Reserve in a new field: military photojournalism. As a young Staff Sergeant, I graduated from the Defense Information School and became an official military photographer. Shortly afterward, in 2017 I was selected for a slot the 4th Combat Camera Squadron.

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With a newfound love for photography, I bought a van and spent two years traveling across the country—exploring nature, photographing the world around me, and supporting myself through the paintings I sold along the way. During that journey, I met a South African actress studying film in Hollywood. We fell in love, married, and began collaborating on creative media projects. Together, we founded Calm Collective, a creative agency centered on meaningful storytelling and thoughtful visual work.

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In 2020, we left Los Angeles and moved to Atlanta with dreams of buying land and starting a family. As a family, we came to recognize that faith in Jesus was the most important part of our lives and committed ourselves to growing in it. We launched a ministry with a long-term vision of creating an art center that uplifts and serves our community.

 

Today, I remain in the Air Force Reserve, serving as a Master Sergeant in the 4th Combat Camera Squadron’s aerial program. I continue to deploy and travel frequently, with opportunities that have taken me to more than 60 countries. When not in uniform, I serve as an executive director for a nonprofit, and freelance as a director of photography through our agency, CALM Collective. My work is shaped by faith, service, family, and a belief that images can tell meaningful stories, bring people together, and help change a world.