In the spring of 2012 I bought a motorcycle and moved to California...
What I had planned for, was not where I ended up.

On a visit to California to spend some time with my parents, I met a man by the name of Harrison Douglas. Already an aspiring photographer in Pittsburgh, I was contemplating an escape from the cold and snow in Western Pennsylvania. Harrison offered a life changing opportunity in Santa Barbara.

He offered the opportunity to help his wife, Kim, in photographing weddings, at first as a sort of intern then as a paid assistant. That was in January and by the following May, I was on the road via motorcycle to sunny Santa Barbara. Unfortunately before I was able to move to Santa Barbara, Harrison passed away from cancer.

Since then I have photographed many weddings, events, pin up contests and created content for nonprofits. Additionally during the off times for photography I began working with youth in the outdoors. I have been a camp cook, expedition lead, outdoor educator and naturalist, ropes staff and lead. During the pandemic I worked with the WildWoods Foundation (wildwoodsla.org) to take their in-person programming and turn it virtual, reaching over 1,000+ youth, sharing a love for nature and the outdoors when they needed it most.

Pursuant to a dream of working in the outdoors with youth, I am finishing a Masters of Youth Development Leadership at Clemson University. While this page was originally designed as a photography portfolio, and some photographs will remain, the purpose has changed to be a record of my writings and projects completed at Clemson in the Youth Development Masters Program.

Enjoy
-Clay