SUMMARY STATEMENT:

Lifestyle portrait photographer with 8+ years of experience documenting over 600+ families with OCJ Photography. In addition, 4+ years of experience as a photojournalist for newspapers, skilled in print and digital media with award-winning visual stories. A strong understanding of social media platforms, camera equipment, and editing software. Energetic persona who thrives in fast-paced environments. Determined to capture a moment of life with true intentionality in both lifestyle photography and photojournalism.

EDUCATION

Syracuse University 

Master of Science in Multimedia, Photography, and Design

May 2021

California State University, Fullerton 

Bachelor of Arts in Communications 

May 2019

Fullerton College 

Associate of Art in Photography 

Photography Certificate

May 2017

WORK EXPERIENCE

OCJ Photography  2015 - Present 

• Focuses on photography and videography

• Content creator for social media, creating posts/reels for Instagram, YouTube videos on how-to for clients, showing behind the scene on TikTok, and running ads on Facebook

• Bookkeeping clients information as well as keeping fund recorders 

• Monthly upkeep of website and graphic designs for media platforms 

• Scouting locations in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and Riverside County to build location portfolio for clients 

• Brainstorming marketing and advertising ideas to create successful Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest ads. 

• Communicating with clients via text, email, and phone 12 hours a day 

Photography Adjunct Professor | Fullerton College August 2022 - Present

• Teach the basic understandings of photography to 20+ students a semester

• Create lectures on the fundamentals of photography, Photoshop, Lightroom, and Bridge

• Educate students on how to use a camera hands-on by teaching the technical side of photography as well as the aesthetic elements of digital photography

Pencilbox Photo| Product Photographer October 2022

• Photographed the Newport Beach Film Festival

• Photographed events, edited selections, and retouched as needed

Disney Club 33 | Product Photographer August 2022

• Photograph limited edition products, including drinks, cups, and food on location

News21: Arizona State University | Internship May 2021 - July 2021 

• Traveled around the county, telling visual stories in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Maryland, and Wisconsin. 

• Worked with a team to report the impacts of covid on childcare, restaurant owners, and the disabled as I created videos and photographs. 

Photography Lab Professor | Syracuse University August 2020 - December 2020

• Teach the basic understandings of photography to 20+ students a semester

• Educate students on how to use a camera hands-on by teaching the technical side of photography as well as the aesthetic elements of digital photography

• Help students understand how to become "storytellers"

Eddie Adams Workshop | Professional Candidate

Virtual Attendances | September - October 2020

• Produced a Visual story within a 12-hour timeline and presented it to the workshop 

• Collaborated with working professionals and was coached by Daniel Berehulak

• Watched presentations from John White, John Moore, Mary F Calvert, and more. 

• Portfolio reviewed by top working journalists 

Fall workshop | Candidate

Syracuse, New York | October 2018 & 2019

• Produced two different stories within Syracuse, New York, in a 2-day timeline

• Organized, edited, and published for a gallery showing among 40+ other participants 

• Collaborated with working professionals, such as Nicole Werbeck from NPR

Voice of OC January | Photo Intern

Costa Mesa, Ca | January 2019 - June 2019

• Photographed over 30 courthouses in Orange County to build a photo database that they are currently using. 

• Photographed, edited, and captioned local events involving homelessness and attended weekly city council meetings across Orange County. 

Daily Titan | Assistant Photo Editor

Fullerton, Ca | August 2018 - May 2019

• Photographed for Lifestyle, News, Sports weekly print

• Worked with a group of 4-10 people weekly to gather essential images of the latest school topics 

IEI Media | International Student Photographer

Valencia, Spain | May 2018 - June 2018

• Covered international events such as Corpus Christi, the arrival of the African refugees traveling on the "Aquarius" boat that crossed the Meditation Sea, and topics including a blinds musician and a nunnery life. 

• Produced photographs, videos, and audio clips of Spain's lifestyle, music, and culture. 

Fullerton College | Teaching Assistant

Fullerton. Ca | January 2015 - Mav 2015

• Set up studio demos for student's presentations, mixed chemicals and helped develop film, assisted students with pending questions about camera knowledge

• Transmitted more the 300 film images into digital with metadata

Renere Studio | Photographer

Santa Ana. Ca l April 2015

• Set up studios space, including lights, camera, and tethering computer to the camera 

• Photographed over 500 ties in different sets up and exported with metadata via lightroom and prepared them for website 

PUBLICATIONS

Wall Street Journal, WSJ

National Public Radio, NPR 

Daily Orange I Syracuse University

OC-Breeze | Buena Park, Ca

Voice of OC I Orange County, Ca

Daily Titan I Cal State Fullerton, Ca

This is Valencia | Valencia, Spain

LiveWire | Fullerton College, Ca

St Catherin's Academy | Anaheim, Ca

GALLERIES 

2020 Art Range I Syracuse, NY

2015 DNJ Gallery | Santa Monica, Ca

AWARDS 

2022 NABJ Salute to Excellence Photography

2022 Society for Environmental Journalists Awards for Reporting on the Environment 2nd Place

2022 NABJ Salute to Excellence: Finalists with Multiple Images

2021 2022 Hearst Journalism Awards 5th Place: Investigative Reporting Deconstructing the Divide

2021 “Oh, the Places You’ll Go Award” | Entrepreneurship Professor | Syracuse University 

2021 Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism 3rd Place

2021 EPPY Awards: Best Photojournalism Finalist

2021 BEA On-Location Creative Competition: Award of Excellence

2020 College Photographer of the Year, CPOY, 2nd place in the Documentary category

2019 Professional Promise Award | California State University, Fullerton

2019 Best News Photograph | California College Media Association

SKILLS

• Bilingual in Spanish

• Knowledgeable in Photo Mechanic and  Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere

• Canon Camera master in DSLR’s, C100-300, Mirrorless cameras, and film cameras

• Studio Lighting Flashpoint products  

Volunteer

2023 Photography for Disney Days with Foster Love

2022 Newport Beach Film Festival with Pencielbox Photo