10/27/2026
Three years ago, I had the privilege of being his baseball coach. Today, he’s in college, and for his leadership program, he chose to write about me as someone who influenced his life.
I’ve read this a few times now, and it’s hard to put into words what it means to me.
Whether I’m behind a camera, teaching a class, lecturing to a room full of photographers, or standing on a baseball field, I’ve always believed my greatest responsibility is to leave a positive impact on someone. Sometimes that comes through an image. Sometimes through a lesson. Sometimes it’s simply believing in someone while they’re still learning to believe in themselves.
Coaching was always about more than wins and losses to me. Life doesn’t follow a straight line, and neither does success. There are ups, downs, disappointments, and moments when things feel unfair. How you handle that adversity, how hard you’re willing to work, and how you treat people along the way will take you further than talent alone. Above everything else, being a good person matters most.
This reflection was about my second-to-last season coaching. We went on to win a championship in my final season with him, and I’ll always treasure that memory. But knowing these lessons stayed with him means even more to me than that championship.
It means he remembers the work, the encouragement, and the belief we built together. It means that creating an environment where each player felt understood, supported, and challenged made a difference beyond the field.
I’ve always tried to bring that same care to the way I photograph and, even more importantly, the way I teach. Every person comes with different strengths, fears, and experiences. Getting to know them is part of the responsibility. You can help someone grow so much when you take the time to understand what they need to succeed.
The line that got me most was this: “I’d want to be led this way again.”
You pour your heart into people and hope something stays with them. To hear that it did, years later, is something I’ll carry with me for a long time.
Proud of the young man you’ve become, and grateful I got to be a small part of your journey. ❤️
