There is something about the ocean that has always felt like home to me. Nothing is more satisfying than feeling completely free, surrounded by endless water and everything that remains unknown beneath the surface. Being underwater is one of the places where I feel most alive, peaceful, and connected to the world around me.

I’ve always considered myself a little bit of a free spirit. I try to stay positive, live creatively, appreciate what is happening right now, and not get too caught up in what everyone else thinks life is supposed to look like.

I love disappearing into the ocean, the wilderness, or whatever adventure I happen to be chasing. I enjoy getting lost in the moment and becoming part of whatever is around me. I’m also someone who loves to watch, listen, observe, and learn from the people, places, and experiences around me.

That has become a big part of who I am.

Most people who know me also know that I would probably do more for someone else than I would ever do for myself. Helping people, inspiring someone, making somebody smile, or simply giving them something positive to hold onto has always meant a lot to me.

If you run into me around Vero Beach, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be somewhere near the ocean, on the ocean, under the ocean, or carrying a camera.

Photography and video have given me a way to capture the things I see and share them with other people. Whether it’s an incredible sunrise, wildlife, the ocean, a family, a home, a business, or a once-in-a-lifetime moment, I love taking something that might disappear in seconds and turning it into something somebody can keep forever.

I was born in Hollywood, Florida, and Florida has always been part of who I am. After graduating high school in 2005, one of the first things I knew I wanted to do was serve my country. I joined the United States Coast Guard and was stationed in Hampton Bays, Long Island, a place that became an important part of my life and gave me experiences I’ll always carry with me.

Serving in the military taught me more than I could ever put into words. It taught me honor, integrity, devotion to duty, responsibility, and what it really means to serve something bigger than yourself. I’m extremely proud that I had the opportunity to serve, and I’ll always carry those experiences with me.

One of the biggest things life has taught me is that I don’t want to define myself by a career, a job title, or what I do for a paycheck.

Life is much bigger than that.

From the moment we are born, our time here is limited. That doesn’t make life sad to me. It makes life valuable. It reminds me that every sunrise, every adventure, every friendship, every opportunity to help somebody, and every moment we get to experience is a gift.

I believe we have to find the things we truly love and actually do them.

For me, that means creating, exploring, helping people, spending time in nature, chasing adventures, getting in the ocean, taking pictures, making videos, bringing ideas to life, and hopefully leaving people a little happier or more inspired than they were before they crossed my path.

I’ve always wanted my photography and everything I create to be about more than just a beautiful picture.

I want it to remind people to live.

I want people to remember that life is our story and we are the ones writing the pages. Some chapters will be incredible. Some will be difficult. Some will completely change us. But as long as we’re still here, there is another page waiting to be written.

Nothing means more to me than when somebody reaches out and tells me that something I photographed, wrote, shared, created, or did for them gave them a little motivation, peace, hope, or inspiration to get through another day.

At the end of it all, that is the person I want to be.

Someone who explored.

Someone who created.

Someone who helped.

Someone who lived.

And someone who reminded other people to live, too.