Michael - Photographer
I've been photographing people, places and things for 34 years. Way back at the beginning, I saved my paper route money to buy my first camera, a Minolta SRT-201, and darkroom equipment including a Bogen Enlarger at the age of 12 in 1976. Grandparents, siblings, cars and trains, and the surrounding environment in my hometown in western Pennsylvania were my first photographic subjects. Observing human nature with or without my camera has been my life-long fascination. My formal photographic training began with Dirk MacKnight in 8th grade, continued through my experiences as Yearbook Photo Editor at Beaver Senior High School and into college at The University of Chicago where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences. Two of my favorite courses at Chicago were not surprisingly both in Photography. My photographic practice and training continued throughout the middle years at The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and The International Center of Photography in New York City. At the age of 30, I traveled to Missoula, Montana and spent the summer attending The Summer Intensive Program at The Rocky Mountain School of Photography. Today, I enjoy photographing my growing family and families like yours.
My family and I live in Warwick, NY where we bought a home in 2004. Angela and I are married with 2 grade-school children. The inspiration for maternity and baby and child portraiture comes with having a wife and young family. Angela is my Art Director providing guidance for me and you at every photographic session. She is my muse and inspiration to focus on Seagull Photographic Art as a venture.
My influences include Henri Cartier-Bresson and William Henry Jackson. Dorothea Lange, Elliot Porter, and Ansel Adams and many other great photographers also inspire me.
Angela - Art Director
“I love making people feel comfortable in front of the camera. Children are especially fun to work with because they are so free and willing to be themselves. Their smiles are contagious. Babies are adorable with their scrumptious chubby toes and button noses. I absolutely loved being pregnant and I’m so happy to have portraits from this special time in my life. I want other expecting Moms to have great portraits, too. And those fresh baked newborns are so perfect and joyous to see and photograph!”
“Family portraiture is truly a joy for me. It is an honor for us to be invited into the homes of loving families. I’m so lucky to be able to work beside my husband, Michael. His passion for photographic art is one of the many reasons that attracted him to me. He’s a very loving and fun Dad to our children.”
We collaborate on every photo shoot to make sure you and your family look great. I’ll offer art direction based on current trends in style and portraiture. And your interests and input will be our guide. We want you to absolutely love the photographic art that we create for your family. We look forward to meeting you and working with you.
