About Me
I was born and grew up in Mexico City, and like many kids my age, I read comic books and watched a lot of TV. When I was seven years old, Star Wars premiered in movie theatres, and I became obsessed with visual effects and storytelling.
My first formal experience with photography started in high school, where I signed up for a class and learned how to use the camera and develop and print film. The moment I saw a print magically appear in a tray of developer, I fell in love with the process of creating images.
I attended the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. After getting my degree in commercial photography, I returned to Mexico and spent the next ten years shooting for a diverse range of clients. At the same time, I started teaching photography and Photoshop (version 4.0!)
In 2004 I immigrated to Vancouver, which I now call home. I slowly built a new list of clients and have been able to continue teaching photography and digital editing. Click here to see some of my commercial work.
My main focus nowadays is exploring and shooting more personal work and teaching photography through workshops and online content. If you’re interested in learning more about photography or photo editing, I offer private photography training in person or online. If you’d like more information please get in touch.
Beyond that, I’m inspired by travelling and connecting with fellow photographers. I love cinematography and lighting, and I’m an avid sci-fi geek.
My Gear
Photo gear alone will not make you a better photographer. Understanding light and composition will.
With that being said, photography relies on cameras and other tools. And let’s be honest, gear is cool. Here's the list photo gear I use.
I have included links to most of my gear, some of the links are affiliate links which means if you choose to purchase an item, I may get a small commission at no cost to you.
Camera: Fujifilm X-T5
I was hesitant to leave the full-frame world, but this camera has renewed my enjoyment of photography. It’s small so it’s easy to take anywhere. The files it creates are beautiful.
Lenses: Fujifilm 16–80mm / 55–200mm / 23mm
I’m very happy with these lenses overall. The 16-80mm (24mm-120mm full frame) is my favourite focal length for everyday photography but I’m now pushing myself to go out only with the 23mm as it makes my setup much lighter and less noticeable for street photography.
Bag: WotanCraft Pilot 7L
When I switched from a full size camera to the Fujifilm mirrorless system, my Shimoda bag was just too big for the smaller kit. I sold the bag and found the Pilot 7 litre by WotanCraft. It’s the perfect size for my Fujifilm X-T5 and a couple of lenses with room to spare. It’s made in Taiwan from a small shop and it’s beautiful. It’s made of water repellent canvas and the most comfortable strap pad I have ever used. The bag is showing some patina which gives it a rugged look. It uses an amazing magnetic buckle from Fidlock that locks with one hand.
Tripod: Leofoto Ranger LS-324C Carbon Fiber
I was hesitant to try a brand I’d never heard of before, but the reviews were excellent, and the price was reasonable for a carbon fibre tripod. It’s made of quality materials and the included ball head is smooth and strong.
Travel Tripod: Manfrotto beFree Aluminum
This lightweight but sturdy enough tripod is ideal for travel or casual shooting. There is a carbon fibre version but for a tripod this small I didn’t see the value in paying the premium that comes with carbon fibre.
Computer: MacBook Pro 14 inch (M3 / 24 GB / 512 SSD)
The Apple M series chips are incredible, they are lightning fast and energy efficient. Using one feels like strapping a jet pack to Lightroom and Photoshop. The M series chips eat up RAM like nobody’s business so I would recommend 16gigs as a minimum.
Display: Dell U2720Q 4k Display
My model is now discontinued but still does everything I need. It’s a 27-inch display that offers very good colour performance (99% sRGB coverage). You get all the possible ports you might need including, 3 USB-A and 2 USB-C ports, one of which delivers 90w of power that can charge almost any laptop.
Wacom Tablet: Intuos Medium
After many years of intense use, my Intuos Pro gave up the ghost, so I decided to try something different. I bought the “non-pro” Intuos Medium, and it turns out it's good enough for my needs. I now have way more space available on my desk. I also never did use the fancy buttons on the Pro model, so I don’t miss them.
Computer mouse: Logitech MX Master 3S
The most money I’ve spent on a mouse and totally worth it. It’s super light and includes a ton of programmable buttons and a horizontal scroll wheel. The letter “S” in the name stands for silent, and it’s my favourite feature. Mouse clicks are 90% less clicky than the standard version.
Software: Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe Photoshop
Not much to say here; Lightroom is where I spend most of my editing time. I break out Photoshop when I need the big guns. I offer private lessons if you’re interested in learning Lightroom, Photoshop or any other topic.
