What’s your businesses primary area of photography?
SG: Portraits and small event coverage. I plan on eventually getting into wedding photography after I get some more experience in covering smaller events.

When did your photographic journey start?
SG: I have been a photographer since December 25th, 2007. Ok so I remember the actual date. It was Christmas and just the night before I was taking some pictures with my family’s point and shoot. The next day (Christmas) I uploaded the pictures and wondered why the pictures looked so plain compared to the ones that I would see published in a magazine. So I decided to go to the mother of all modern knowledge (Google) in order to get to the bottom of this question. It is then that I realized that photography was much more than the Auto setting. I then read the manual front to end that same day, and luckily, our camera was a Canon Powershot that had all the manual modes. So that night I experimented with some of the manual modes and since then photography has been my lover and best friend in life…. =)
I started my business about two weeks ago…lol. No, seriously literally started offering professional services about two weeks ago. Just on a side note, the inLIGHTin forum has been instrumental in getting me through this process. These guys are great and have so much information and experience that they are willing to share, that I’m sure if I had to learn some of this stuff the hard way, it would cost me a lot of money. (So if you’re a beginner or someone that doesn’t think they know everything there is to know about photography, the price of the workshop is absolutely worth it….)

What made you decide to pursue a career in photography?
SG: All the comments from friends and family sounding something like: “You’re getting really good at this. You should do this professionally.”

How would you best describe yourself and your photographic style?
SG: I would describe my style as raw (no not camera raw…lol). I like my pictures to have a raw edge to them that almost looks like they were taken by someone that didn’t know what they were doing. But I feel the raw edge adds an extra element of reality to the picture that makes you feel like you’re right there in the moment.

What do you feel separates yourself from other photographers in your same profession?
SG: Passion. I’ve met many photographers that take pictures because it’s a job. Every time I put the camera to my eye, I feel a sense of excitement that never fails to remind me of how much I love the art of photography.

What other photographer or photographers have been a big inspiration to you?
SG: I’ve been mostly influenced by David Hobby’s work. His work is a perfect representation of creating a picture, rather than just showing up and pressing a shutter release.

What else motivates and inspires you?
SG: It sounds a little strange, but I’m also motivated by frustration. The frustration of life motivates me to pursue photography because when I hold my camera to take a picture I’m free and have no worry in the world.

What does a typical day of yours involve?
SG: A: Being a full time Business Management student, my day typically starts at 6am. Travel to my campus that is about an hour away from home, do all the typical school related stuff like sit in a boring lecture hall with a dinosaur at the front talking about corporate finance while I sitting there reading Photography blogs, and anything related to photography I find interesting. Yes I’m the type of student that has to go home and learn everything on my own out of a book. I try to shoot whenever I can, that is any where I go. My nickname among my friends is the paparazzi because I’m always carrying my camera.

Q: Do you have anyone else working for you? Do you outsource your work? If so then what do you primarily outsource? (i.e. printing, albums, books, graphic design, etc.)
SG: Right now I have all my pictures hosted on Zenfolio and I primarily do my printing through Mpix.

What is your absolute favorite photo that you have ever taken and why?

What advice can you offer other pros out there to take their business to the next level?
MB: The moment you think your on top, keep looking up your only half way there!

What camera equipment are you currently shooting with?
SG: Right now I shoot with a Canon Rebel XTi. I use the 18-55 kit lens as an all purpose and I use a 50mm Prime for all my portraits. I’m planning to upgrade the kit lens to the 24-70 USM soon, since the kit lens is a piece of $^!#.

What’s your lens of choice?
SG: Canon 24-70 f2.8 L

Where can we see some more of your work?
MB: www.svgphoto.zenfolio.com is my web site and you can also see my work on Facebook here: SVG|Photography on Facebook.