About Me

The journey began at Toby Johnson Middle School yearbook back in 2018. My then yearbook advisor let me used the most expensive camera, a Nikon D7500, while the other ‘plebeians’ used Canon Rebels. It took months to familiarize myself with this Nikon, and understanding lenses, focal lengths, ISO, Shutter speed. It took great experimentation, as I learned to balance exposure and grain. I even blinded teammates while using the Nikon’s built in flash in our dark gymnasium. Eventually I was given the prestigious title of “Photo Editor”, a small achievement in retrospect, but a planted seed for my early teenage years.

I then joined Franklin High School Yearbook with a new advisor, Allen Maxwell. He had this uncanny charismatic ability to motivate students in working diligently. Perhaps I fell into this spell too and bought myself a used Nikon D610, using it to take thousands of photos my sophomore and junior year. He always emphasized Yearbook as this historical document with its indefinite influence. This prospect drove me to work my very hardest in my photographic journey. But at my end of senior year, I was met with a critical creative decision.

I applied to University of California, Irvine and granted admission as a psychology major. But during this period of my life, I began taking college courses in Audio Engineering at Sacramento City College. To me, Audio Engineering combined my technical fervor with my inherit creativity. This ability to record and mix a great track invigorated me, yet by going to UC Irvine would end this passion. Conversely, Audio Engineering was an unknown path and didn’t guarantee success, like a UC education. I dwelled on the decision, but I couldn’t forgive myself If I didn’t at least try at Audio Engineering.

My freshman year of college represented high reward for my biggest risk. Using my knowledge in photography and music, I was able to get paid opportunities with this unique skill. I started an instagram account for the Commercial Music department and started a live sound company, Hierarchy of Sound. For this brand, Hierarchy of Media I aim to expand my legacy and offer my services to others.