Charles
Begin. I was born on June 5th 1970 in Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography with a Bachelor of Arts degree. My mother, a former math teacher, now owns a Thai restaurant. My father was a photographer. I grew up around his studio and made my first print at age 5. When I started my education at Brooks my father passed down his first Hasselblad. I love it, especially the word DEMO stamped on the bottom of it.
Work. I have worked and traveled throughout North America, Southeast Asia and Europe. My favorite thing in a new place is to watch the sun rise. Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Paris, New York City, Kansas City and Omaha are cities I have called home at one time. Each of these places allowed me to work with amazing people and eat at great restaurants.
Eat. Now there is a verb I love. Going somewhere? In another life I would have been a food editor for Zagats. My most favorite quote happened at L'Atelier Joel Robuchon's spot in Paris when the waiter told me everything is good.
Love. My inspirations are my two children Miles and Evie. I don't think I could truly see as a child until I had my own. I have experienced things for the first time once again through my children. They are my true fountain of youth.
Laurie. I don't think a sentence, paragraph, or book could explain my infatuation for her. She is truly my best friend and soul mate. I think her stubbornness and desire for perfection are amazing traits. People often ask us how we can work together, my response has always been, "it's not work." Laurie recently passed on a great piece of advice. She said that your life has already been planned out, so live it. I love thinking that way.
You. Thank you for reading my story. It has really just begun.