1974 ~ 1990
When I was seventeen, a friend introduced me to photography. Two years later, I met a a twenty six year old advertising, music and glamour photographer who sparked a passion for photography I had not known. Dennis worked out of his suburban home and had transformed the garage into a high-tech studio that I could not comprehend…only gawk. Dennis had a knack for building multimedia slide presentations combining carousel projectors and audio tracks. This preceded the PC and Microsoft Power Point and was completely mesmerizing. I left overwhelmed, inspired, driven and passionate that I too would succeed in photography.
In my one bedroom apartment, I set up a small studio and darkroom and began to seek employment. I tried for months trying to get work from a publicity photographer on Music Row and was even introduced as his new assistant at his studio’s grand opening. I showed up to work the next day and was denied employment.
Out of work, no income, no financial reserves, I refused to accept this annoying little setback. It dawned on me I needed to start my own business. I spent the next few days in my darkroom developing a distinctive business card (above right) printed on photo paper. Remembering a contact I had met at the grand opening, I hopped on my 10-Speed bike (no money, no car!) and called on my first customer. He was a commercial artist on Music Row specializing in album covers for the country music industry. I landed my first account, processing his black and white film and printing 8×10 glossy photos of publicity shots. My career began.
When not in the lab, I rode my bike to other Advertising Agencies, music companies and graphic artists seeking any lab or photo work I could find. Eventually, I bought a $900 car which enabled me to provide more service and call on more customers.
Over the course of these years, I built and outgrew 4 photography studios. When I built my fifth and last facility at 623 7th Ave. South, it was the largest commercial photography studio ever built in Nashville. Initially, I leased the 7,500 sq.’ building with an option to purchase which I exercised in 1986. Unbelievably, through little fault of my own, I had been forcefully evicted from every prior business location. Now for the first time in my business career, I now had security that I would not loose my place of business. When I was at the peak of my career, I invited Dennis and my other mentors to visit and thanked each for their inspiration. (History of Studios)
My family decided to move to my wife’s home of Fort Worth, TX. I was ready for a change as I felt I had peaked in my career. In 1990, I sold the photography business to one of Nashville’s largest advertising agencies. Since managing the real estate from Fort Worth was difficult, I sold the building thus completing a twenty year journey.