1. My interest in photography began when my parents gave me
a “Brownie” camera. I became the family photographer. As
the saying goes…”the rest is history"; or was it?
While I found myself in the Army stationed in Germany, the
desire to be creative surfaced. I wanted to capture the beauty
that was surrounding me. I enrolled in a correspondence
course with the NY Institute of Photography. I not only learn
how to take pictures, but to develop B&W and color film. I
used my skills to take good quality portraits of my fellow
soldiers, which they purchased to send back home to loved
ones. I was beginning a new career.
Once again, changed happened; I ended my military
obligation and came home. I had a wife and child to take care
of. My desire to continue photography, to me, was not
realistic to support a family. However, photography became
my hobby.
Four years ago, I purchased my first SLR digital camera. The
basics of taking pictures has not changed, however, the
camera is a mini-computer. Learning to create an image that
would appeal to the public was the challenge. I had to learn
how to “manipulate” the digital world.

2. In New Jersey, I found a free program for veterans, Veterans
Launching Ventures, sponsored by Fairleigh Dickinson
University’s Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship. The
program provided me the tools, knowledge and confidence to
begin my own small business. Today, I have a photography
business; Photographs By Melo.com. I am so excited to have
returned to one of my loves and capturing the beauty that
surrounds us.