Joe got started in photography when he was in grammar school back in Milford, CT. He initially started taking photographs with a 126 camera (remember those?). By eighth grade he moved up to a 35mm Nikon SLR.
Primarily self-taught, he supplemented his learning and trials through classes in high school and college and subsequently destination seminars and professional associations. Joe was the treasurer for the Northern Virginia Professional Photographers Association from 2010 to 2013.
Through high school and college he took various courses exploring his creativity and was very involved in the school newspapers and yearbooks. In high school his father built him a darkroom in the basement encouraging his craft. He learned photography the old fashioned way, in a real darkroom. Joe believes all those aspiring to be professional photographers should understand and learn the “wet” process of developing your own film and printing your own photographs with an enlarger. He feels it is a very fulfilling experience.
While Joe has fully embraced the digital age, he feels something is lost now that everything is done in a computer or in the camera. “There is an art to developing and printing your own film. There is nothing more satisfying that seeing a well exposed set of negatives come out of your developing tank then watching them magically appear in the trays once you print them. On the flip side it is time consuming and a smelly endeavor.”
Joe has spent many years photographing events for family and friends that led to professional gigs creating portraits, photographing weddings and other important and special events. As technology went from film (analog) to digital he followed along, rather reluctantly. As the technology improved though he came to fully embrace it.
Joe is available for portrait sessions, events, engagement photos, etc. (including destination events given sufficient notice.)
Primarily self-taught, he supplemented his learning and trials through classes in high school and college and subsequently destination seminars and professional associations. Joe was the treasurer for the Northern Virginia Professional Photographers Association from 2010 to 2013.
Through high school and college he took various courses exploring his creativity and was very involved in the school newspapers and yearbooks. In high school his father built him a darkroom in the basement encouraging his craft. He learned photography the old fashioned way, in a real darkroom. Joe believes all those aspiring to be professional photographers should understand and learn the “wet” process of developing your own film and printing your own photographs with an enlarger. He feels it is a very fulfilling experience.
While Joe has fully embraced the digital age, he feels something is lost now that everything is done in a computer or in the camera. “There is an art to developing and printing your own film. There is nothing more satisfying that seeing a well exposed set of negatives come out of your developing tank then watching them magically appear in the trays once you print them. On the flip side it is time consuming and a smelly endeavor.”
Joe has spent many years photographing events for family and friends that led to professional gigs creating portraits, photographing weddings and other important and special events. As technology went from film (analog) to digital he followed along, rather reluctantly. As the technology improved though he came to fully embrace it.
Joe is available for portrait sessions, events, engagement photos, etc. (including destination events given sufficient notice.)
© Joe Cruz Photography