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I once accidentally won “Photographer of the Year” in Sacramento, CA.
I say “accidentally” because I never set out to win a competition—or photograph models—or even shoot on large-format cameras. Those things all just kind of happened in the perfect sequence. It all started one day when a high school friend was in town and said:
“You should come to San Francisco. We’ll walk around all night and take pics. Best shot wins.”
When we met up, she proudly opened her backpack to reveal the $700 DSLR she’d just bought on Amazon. I smiled—and she instantly knew I was hiding something.
“Open your backpack. Now.”
I pulled out a Hasselblad H4D-60 I’d borrowed earlier that day.
“You’re cheating! That’s a $30,000 camera!”
“You didn’t set any ground rules,” I said. “And you know I’m competitive.”
“Fine. But I’m getting you arrested tonight. Just watch.”
Before I could ask what she meant, she dragged me out to the heavily rusted ninth-story fire escape across from her hotel. “I’m not going out there,” I said. “The weight of either one of us will make that thing collapse.” She ignored me and demanded that I shoot everywhere she did. It went like that all night.
We almost did get arrested when she decided we should shoot from the skybridge of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
“Um, I’m pretty sure you need permission to shoot there,” I said.
Sure enough, the lobby staff politely declined. We walked out—and she immediately ducked into a service entrance. “Are you coming?” she yelled. I sighed, followed her into the service elevator, and we rode up to the 40th floor.
“You’re right,” I said. “We’re definitely getting arrested tonight.”
“Hush—and get ready to shoot.” she retorted.
We didn’t shoot for more than sixty seconds before we heard the sound of security radios closing in. We bolted for the elevator, exited through the lobby, and passed the same concierge who’d turned us down earlier. She just shook her head and gave us a subtle “well played” nod. We spent the next fifteen minutes avoiding SFPD and a potential trespassing charge.
I won the night with a shot of the Bay Bridge. My friend still thinks I cheated—but I prefer to think I just used my resources.
Four weeks later, my friend Jill (owner of Maribou Salon in Folsom, CA) messaged me:
“Hey! I saw your San Francisco pics—they’re amazing. Want to do a modeling shoot with us?”
Absolutely.
I had never worked with models in my life. I watched a DVD the night before called How to Work With Models and stepped into a shoot the next morning with 20 stylists and 40 models.
It was a “stylist’s challenge,” and most had recruited friends, clients, or neighbors to model for them. Aside from pretending to be an experienced fashion photographer, the first day went smoothly.
Day two was different. It also went fine, but it definitely started with a bit of bewilderment. As I was setting up the lights, three men in suits approached—looking more like mafia dons than models. I said,
“Are you guys here for the funeral? I think it’s down the road.”
They stared at me blankly until their stylist appeared behind them and cleared things up. It finally dawned on me they were there to shoot.
After editorial, the best images were printed and hung at Maribou Salon. Some are still there today—one even became a massive wall print for their newest location.
Later that month, I attended a RAW Artists event in Sacramento. Walking through the exhibits, I thought, It’d be pretty cool to show here. I approached the show director, who brushed me off with, “We might have space…but I’d need to see your portfolio...”
I pulled out my iPhone to show her. Her tone changed instantly: “We absolutely have room for you. Can you exhibit next month?”
I scrambled to prep a selection of prints. Another photographer friend—who’d originally invited me to the show—seemed less than thrilled.
“You DO know this is a competition, right?” Are you sure you can go head-to-head with me?" he joked.
I wasn't sure. But now I was intrigued. Could I actually win?
That night, I placed as a finalist—qualifying me for the year-end finals alongside two others, including my photographer friend. I didn’t want him thinking I’d entered just to compete against him, so I let him use my large-format printer for his own show pieces. That smoothed things over.
Until I actually won. 😂
We’re fine now. He knows I tried to be gracious. But it was just one of those moments—like taking your naïve buddy out for the night and he’s the one who ends up getting the phone number for the attractive woman at the end of the bar. Not how you expected things to go, but that’s life.
I ultimately got my job at Hanzo because of those photos. Those projects were my introduction to professional photography, and I realized I could actually make a living at it. My first project for Hanzo was a contract shoot at the CEO’s house—and things just took off from there.
People still ask where I trained as a photographer. They’re usually surprised when I answer, “YouTube—and talking to people I respect.” But it’s true.
Want to know some of the most invaluable lessons I’ve learned over the years? Keep scrolling...
