My love affair with photography is one that came about after almost a decade of trial and error. I graduated from Lehigh University in 2003 bartended, managed the family business, applied to Harvard business school(didn’t get in) , applied to culinary school(did get in), butchered, worked as chef, and captained tables at two 3-star Michelin restaurants. All positions, which I’ll discover later, affected my need to connect with people.

In 2009, my son Dominic was born, and I started working for Chef Thomas Keller at Per Se in New York City; two titan-sized events that influenced my need to look inward and improve. I was constantly being coached at work on the pursuit of perfection. Interestingly, a tenet passed on to me by my parents and one I planned on passing on to my son.

I then moved to the west coast and continued working for Thomas, however with the distractions of New York City gone I found myself reflecting on my past and narrowing in on whats been important…people and listening to them.

Throughout this time, I had also picked up a DSLR, taught myself how to use it and began capturing images of people, trying to express their thoughts and feelings. It wasn’t until the past year that I stumbled upon the work of Richard Avedon, Yousuf Karsh, Annie Leibovitz, Gregory Heisler and Peter Hurley where the proverbial light bulb when on. I realized that listening with my camera helped people to be heard.

Now, armed with a camera and a penchant for capturing the “voice” of my clients I focus on their need to express who they are as a person. This has led my career to working with clients in the entertainment industry, corporate world, various social media channels and startup arena.

As I continue to grow as a son, father, and photographer I have to give thanks to my parents, Oscar and Orietta De La Villa, for their everlasting support and belief in me, and to my son, Dominic, for continually being a source of inspiration to me.

“I've photographed just about everyone in the world. But what I hope to do is photograph people of accomplishment, not celebrity, and help define the difference once again.”

~Richard Avedon