Last week was impactful.
Not only on me, but waves were made in the world. Historic waves. Very rare is it that you see such a big artist step into activism and create a song performed and listen to by millions of people about a subject like Social Injustice.
If you haven’t heard Usher’s new song CHAINS, it’s a strong one, but beyond the sound is the message it’s carrying. The song is meant to make the public aware of the social injustice and police brutality. They created an interactive experience at chains.tidal.com where you have to watch the content to hear the song. In the experience, it shows the faces of victims of black lives that have been murdered in injustice.
Last week I got to photograph his performance on Tuesday at the Tidal show, where he debuted CHAINS. It was an amazing day, and powerful experience. He brought out the families of the victims in the video to see the show and have a special VIP experience. Who does that?
Usher cares about Legacy and making a difference in today’s world. He does what people of position should do to make the world a better place. Mentoring, giving back, raising awareness to causes and issues, etc. One of the few celebrities using their platform to create good in the world. Much respect.
The week ended with a chat at 92y with Usher and Harry Belafonte, legends and history being made. It was beautiful to see Harry as a mentor to Usher, speaking of his days with Martin Luther King and changing the world. Such a powerful conversation. Jay Z showed up to support as well which was huge.
I continue to be inspired by friends like this making an impact in the world. Using their art to create positive change. Experiences like this make me feel so blessed.
If you want to hear more of Usher’s perspective on life, check out my podcast interview with him at shoptalkradio.com/ep38
Last week was impactful.
Not only on me, but waves were made in the world. Historic waves. Very rare is it that you see such a big artist step into activism and create a song performed and listen to by millions of people about a subject like Social Injustice.
If you haven’t heard Usher’s new song CHAINS, it’s a strong one, but beyond the sound is the message it’s carrying. The song is meant to make the public aware of the social injustice and police brutality. They created an interactive experience at chains.tidal.com where you have to watch the content to hear the song. In the experience, it shows the faces of victims of black lives that have been murdered in injustice.
Last week I got to photograph his performance on Tuesday at the Tidal show, where he debuted CHAINS. It was an amazing day, and powerful experience. He brought out the families of the victims in the video to see the show and have a special VIP experience. Who does that?
Usher cares about Legacy and making a difference in today’s world. He does what people of position should do to make the world a better place. Mentoring, giving back, raising awareness to causes and issues, etc. One of the few celebrities using their platform to create good in the world. Much respect.
The week ended with a chat at 92y with Usher and Harry Belafonte, legends and history being made. It was beautiful to see Harry as a mentor to Usher, speaking of his days with Martin Luther King and changing the world. Such a powerful conversation. Jay Z showed up to support as well which was huge.
I continue to be inspired by friends like this making an impact in the world. Using their art to create positive change. Experiences like this make me feel so blessed.
If you want to hear more of Usher’s perspective on life, check out my podcast interview with him at shoptalkradio.com/ep38







Last week was impactful.
Not only on me, but waves were made in the world. Historic waves. Very rare is it that you see such a big artist step into activism and create a song performed and listen to by millions of people about a subject like Social Injustice.
If you haven’t heard Usher’s new song CHAINS, it’s a strong one, but beyond the sound is the message it’s carrying. The song is meant to make the public aware of the social injustice and police brutality. They created an interactive experience at chains.tidal.com where you have to watch the content to hear the song. In the experience, it shows the faces of victims of black lives that have been murdered in injustice.
Last week I got to photograph his performance on Tuesday at the Tidal show, where he debuted CHAINS. It was an amazing day, and powerful experience. He brought out the families of the victims in the video to see the show and have a special VIP experience. Who does that?
Usher cares about Legacy and making a difference in today’s world. He does what people of position should do to make the world a better place. Mentoring, giving back, raising awareness to causes and issues, etc. One of the few celebrities using their platform to create good in the world. Much respect.
The week ended with a chat at 92y with Usher and Harry Belafonte, legends and history being made. It was beautiful to see Harry as a mentor to Usher, speaking of his days with Martin Luther King and changing the world. Such a powerful conversation. Jay Z showed up to support as well which was huge.
I continue to be inspired by friends like this making an impact in the world. Using their art to create positive change. Experiences like this make me feel so blessed.
If you want to hear more of Usher’s perspective on life, check out my podcast interview with him at shoptalkradio.com/ep38

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Emanate is a creative-direction-led photography experience for entrepreneurs, speakers, and thought leaders in a moment of expansion. This isn’t about better photos. It’s about aligning how you’re seen with who you’ve become. For seasons of rebrand, visibility, and next-level leadership.
Magnetic Authority is a self-guided container for people who feel visible, but not fully anchored.
If your message keeps shifting, your brand feels inconsistent, or your presence doesn’t match your capability yet. This is where you build the foundation before you scale.
For founders, creatives, and leaders who want a trusted long-term partner. This isn’t coaching or traditional consulting.
It’s an ongoing creative partnership focused on bringing your personal brand identity to life.
Your brand. Your website. Your visuals.
All shaped as a direct extension of who you are. The work also includes a bespoke process of identifying and aligning the right experts when needed, so nothing gets built out of sync with your core.
Quiet. Precise. Highly Selective.

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Most brand photographers take good photos of you. Few capture who you actually are. Here is what to look for when hiring a brand photographer so your images match your authority.

Taste is less a gift than a discipline you build through thousands of reps of seeing. Here is what twenty-five years behind a camera taught me about the art of seeing.

Visual Frequency of Authority is the energetic signature your images transmit before anyone reads a word. What it means and why two people with the same credentials read so differently.

Every personal brand stalls in one of three gaps: Identity, Signal, or Infrastructure. Most people have the third and spend years fixing the first.

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Creative coherence is when who you are and how you’re seen are the same thing. A short, clear definition of the term, its four layers, and why it makes a brand magnetic.

A magnetic through-line is the one or two word idea your whole brand becomes associated with. What it is, why it matters, and how to find yours.

Creative coherence is the state where who you are and how you’re seen are the same thing. Why it matters more than frequency, and how to build it.

Identity Alchemy runs in five phases: Deconstruct, Curate, Architect, Become, Express. A walkthrough of what happens inside each, and where people get stuck.

Identity Alchemy is a five-phase method for rebuilding who you are and how you’re seen so the two finally match. Here is the full process.
I was born in a low middle class conservative religious family in the suburbs of Seattle. Art was and always has been my passion, and more than that a way of life. Starting as a graphic designer, I taught myself photography, built a commercial/editorial business shooting for the worlds biggest brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas and more. I've also had the opportunity to photograph the world's biggest celebrities like Justin Bieber, Usher, Jessica Alba and more. I've curated a lifestyle around creativity and have learned a lot along the way which I get to share here.
I was born in a low middle class conservative religious family in the suburbs of Seattle. Art was and always has been my passion, and more than that a way of life. Starting as a graphic designer, I taught myself photography, built a commercial/editorial business shooting for the worlds biggest brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas and more. I've also had the opportunity to photograph the world's biggest celebrities like Justin Bieber, Usher, Jessica Alba and more. I've curated a lifestyle around creativity and have learned a lot along the way which I get to share here.