2025 Participant Biographies

It has taken me over 50 years to see and believe that I too, have a beautiful and amazing story to share. I will never forget the first time I looked in the mirror, and the first time I saw a photo of myself; and loved who was looking back at me. Throughout my life I have struggled with not knowing who I really am or how I fit into the world. So, it was not unsurprising that tears of joy and happiness filled my eyes and streamed down my face, as I fell in love with me. Many people at times struggle with who they are or who they want to be. We are our own harshest critics, identifying every slight imperfection being hyper critical of ourselves. We fail to celebrate the beautiful and amazing things that make us the person that we are. I have always admired people who have the courage, confidence and self-love and are able to live unapologetically as who they are. Professionally, day to day, as a portrait photographer, I want to help people find the courage, confidence, and self-love by helping them share their beautiful and amazing story in portraits that celebrate who they are. I was diagnosed with gender dysphoria in Dec. of 2021. The hardest part has been having to live a dual life of secrecy and navigating learning to love all of ,myself as I have been torn and afraid of the future. I have been lovingly married for almost 20 years and together we are trying to navigate the challenges my gender dysphoria and life have presented. I am also the proud father of two daughters, a son in law and grandson, who do not know about my beautiful Steph side. Not unlike most trans peoples, I navigates not only through her dual genders, but also dual cultures, one which is very accepting and supporting, and one in which carries great risk for me and my loved ones should I be inappropriately outed. I am an award winning and internationally published professional photographer, who has a small portrait studio near Washington DC. I am active in teaching and leadership roles in the Virginia Professional Photographers Association and Professional Photographers of America (PPA). and have achieved my Master of Photography, and my Certified Profession Photographer accrediting through PPA. Prior to starting my photography business, I spent about 25 years in leadership roles in supply chain management and banking and was a farmer. I have a Bachelor of Science in Business, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration and several Certificates in Photography. I love to travel, photograph steam trains, and ride my bicycle, and admit I am a Manchester United fan. As I have continued to learn and love more of myself, I am looking to share my story of survival, resilience, and love to provide hope and encouragement to others. You are not alone, you are amazing and you are loved! (please note - I do live dual gendered and have not listed my male professional online presence here)