There was something especially meaningful about photographing the New York Estonian House’s 80th anniversary celebration.
I spent part of my childhood in these rooms, attending Estonian school, singing and learning folk dancing. At the time, Estonia was still under Soviet occupation, and we did not know if we would ever see it independent again.
I also remember the photographers who would occasionally come through to photograph our classes, performances and holiday assemblies. At the time, they were just pictures being taken. Years later, those photographs have become treasures. They bring back people, places and moments I might otherwise have forgotten.
So returning to the Estonian House now, with Estonia free and its President there to help mark the House’s 80th anniversary, felt especially meaningful.
And being there as one of the photographers added another layer to it. There is something humbling about realizing that the photographs we make today may one day become someone else’s memories.
That, more than anything, is what I love about documentary photography. Sometimes you are not just photographing an event. You are helping preserve a small piece of a community’s story.

One of my favorite things to do is visit different community events and see how people connect, celebrate, and share those experiences with others
It’s also a good reminder that, as different as people and communities can be, there are still so many things we share.
Last Saturday took me to the Sparta NJ Renaissance Festival, a community all its own.Here are a few photographs from the afternoon.

ScanFest has been part of my life for a long time.
My mother used to display there back when the festival was still getting started, so going to ScanFest has always felt like more than simply attending an event.

It is a chance to be around people who share parts of the same culture, to reconnect with traditions, music, food and language, and also to share those things with people who may be experiencing them for the first time.

These days, I experience the festival partly through my camera. I still go to connect and enjoy the day, but I also find myself watching for the moments that tell the story: someone demonstrating a traditional craft, musicians playing, dancers performing, people joining in, or small interactions happening around the edges.

Photography has become another way for me to participate.
A few moments from ScanFest 2026 at NJ Vasa Park.

This headshot session had a very specific goal: create a new portrait that would fit naturally with an existing set of company headshots.

That meant looking closely at the style already in place, including the background, crop, lighting and overall feel, and then recreating that look while working on location at the client’s home.

Being mobile lets me bring a small studio setup to the client rather than requiring them to travel to one. It also gives us a little flexibility during the session.

Once we had the primary corporate look covered, we made a quick outfit change and created an additional portrait with a slightly different feel, giving her another option for LinkedIn or other professional use.

The goal was simple: make the new images feel like they belonged with the existing team portraits, while still giving the client something that felt like her.

A professional headshot is often one of the first things someone needs as they begin the transition from college into the working world.

For this recent session, my client was preparing for graduate school applications, resumes, LinkedIn and other professional spaces where a good first impression matters.

Rather than creating one photograph and calling it done, we approached the session with different uses in mind.
We photographed several poses and crops, from a traditional head-and-shoulders portrait to a more relaxed, arms-crossed pose. We also created versions both with and without his Florida State branding.

The idea was simple: give him options.

A photograph that works well for LinkedIn may not be the best choice for a graduate school application, professional bio or future employer. Having a small collection of portraits allows him to choose an image that fits the context while still looking consistently like himself.

For me, that's an important part of a headshot session. It's not simply about making one good photograph. It's about creating photographs that someone can actually use.

This summer, I photographed the Lake Hopatcong WakeOff for Lake Hopatcong News, documenting an event that has become a tradition on the lake.

Now in its 19th year, the WakeOff brings together riders and spectators from around Lake Hopatcong, along with competitors traveling from as far away as Florida, Canada, and France.

There is plenty of action to photograph. Riders move quickly across the water, launching into tricks with only a brief window to catch the right moment. But the WakeOff is also very much a community event. Between runs, there are families watching from boats and along the shoreline, competitors supporting one another, and all the small moments that give the day its character.

That mix is what I enjoy photographing most: the big moments that immediately grab your attention, along with the quieter details that help tell the full story of an event.

The photographs were originally created for the WakeOff feature in Lake Hopatcong News. Here are some more images from the day.

Every Sunday during the sailing season, sailors gather on Lake Hopatcong for a morning on the water.

Some have raced together for years. Some are families. Some are neighbors. There's competition, but there's also an easy camaraderie that's just part of the day.

Watching from a chase boat, what struck me wasn't simply the sailing. It was how everyone looked after one another. Advice was shared. Boats were checked. People waved. 

It's a reminder that places aren't defined only by where they are, but by the people who return to them week after week.

As a photographer, those are the moments I'm drawn to. The sailing brought me there. The people kept my attention.

View the complete photo gallery from the Sunday races:
Lake Hopatcong Sunday Races Gallery

There are some events you know are special before they begin.

Volunteering to photograph Lake Hopatcong's USA 250 Boat Parade from one of the museum's jump boats meant I wasn't just watching history unfold. I was in the middle of it, documenting a moment when all four lake communities, together with countless residents and visitors, circled the lake in celebration of our nation's 250th anniversary.

Photographing from a moving boat was almost an action sport. Every turn revealed another story: beautifully restored wooden boats, generations of families waving from docks, firefighters, sailors, and quiet moments between all the excitement. Some scenes felt grand, while others lasted only a heartbeat before they disappeared.

In the middle of it all, I put the camera down for a minute.
Sometimes the most important part of documenting history is taking a moment to experience it yourself.

I'm grateful to the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum for the opportunity to help preserve a small piece of this remarkable day.

If you were part of the parade, watching from shore, or would simply like to relive the day, you can view the complete gallery here: Lake Hopatcong's USA 250 Boat Parade Full Gallery

For a few evenings each summer, a carnival transforms an ordinary field into a place filled with light, laughter, and movement. It's where neighbors reconnect, children make memories, and the simple joy of being together takes center stage.
That's what I hope to capture: not just what the carnival looked like, but the feeling of a New Jersey summer evening.

As the department photographer for the Hopatcong Fire Department, this is one of my favorite events to photograph each year.
The annual Veterans Cruise is more than a salute to those who have served. It's a reminder of what community looks like. Firefighters, veterans, families, musicians, local organizations, and neighbors all come together on the River Styx Bridge to say one simple thing: thank you.
Thank you to our veterans, and to everyone who came out to celebrate them.

The Lake Hopatcong Block Party returned to the State Park this weekend, bringing together community organizations, local businesses, vendors, demonstrations, activities, food, and visitors from across the region.
Throughout the day there were opportunities to explore the lake by boat, meet first responders and conservation groups, learn about local organizations, enjoy live demonstrations, and spend time with neighbors and friends along the shoreline.
Children explored hands-on exhibits, met mascots, enjoyed face painting and activities, while visitors moved between vendor tents, community booths, food stands, and the waterfront.
Events like this are a reminder that the lake is more than a destination. It is a community built through people, organizations, volunteers, and shared experiences.
Thank you to everyone who helped organize, support, participate in, and enjoy another year of the Lake Hopatcong Block Party.

Some events just pull me in.
Aqualumina was one of those nights where people came together to make something joyful. Handmade lanterns, music in the trees, glowing costumes, kids blowing bubbles, strangers stopping to watch together for a while.
Frenchtown always seems to make space for events like this. Creative people showing up, participating, sharing ideas, making things by hand.

Aqualumina felt immersive in the best sense of the word. Light, sound, movement, and community all woven together for an evening.
These are the kinds of events I’m always drawn to photographing because there’s so much humanity in them.

Drill nights are about more than learning equipment and procedures.
They’re about teamwork, trust, and learning how to rely on the people around you.
At Hopatcong Fire Department, cadets train alongside senior firefighters to learn everything from drafting and pumping operations to setup, breakdown, and working together under pressure.
Many of these cadets are high school friends, but they’re also becoming part of the larger firehouse family and learning what it means to serve their community together.
The fire service is built one generation at a time.

A room full of family, stories, laughter, and anticipation for what comes next.
Small moments.
Real reactions.
A celebration shared together.

Every year, the New York City Easter Parade transforms Fifth Avenue into a moving celebration of creativity, fashion, humor, and self-expression.
What makes the event special is not just the hats or elaborate outfits, but the willingness of people to participate fully. For a few hours, strangers become part of the same shared experience, stopping to admire, photograph, and celebrate one another.
This year, I approached the day differently.
Instead of treating it like an assignment, I gave myself permission to simply walk, observe, and photograph whatever caught my attention. The result was a collection of moments that felt spontaneous, colorful, and honest.
From carefully constructed floral headpieces to playful handmade details, the parade reflected the individuality and joy that make New York unlike anywhere else.
Even the rain that arrived later in the day became part of the story, changing the mood of the streets and adding another layer of atmosphere to the experience.
These photographs are a small collection of moments from this year’s celebration along Fifth Avenue.