My earliest memory of holding a camera was in a Yosemite camp ground when I was probably 8. Although, if you count the View Master I had and the reels I collected on a cross country camper trip when I was 6, my fascination with images started even earlier. I still have the View Master, reels and Brownie camera from those early excursions. Photography has been a passion ever since and has provided the creative outlet my soul craves.

Even before the cross country trip our family was active in community service. In my youth, most of it centered around the YMCA Christmas Tree lot and semi-annual trips to YMCA camps for beginning and end of season camp clean-ups. As an adult I’ve been active with American Red Cross, National Ski Patrol, the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter and Childhelp.

So you might be wondering how a passion for photography and a lifestyle of community service led to make a difference photography and “mad” money. The combination of photography and community service was simple. What non-profit doesn’t need great images for press, promotional materials and newsletters? But the question was, how to do that and make money for the non-profit at the same time? For that I relied on a lesson learned from my Mom. She is the inspiration for both the name of my photography studio and the “mad” money concept.

Mom has made a habit of putting aside $5 for every $5 my Dad spends on lottery tickets. She doesn’t spend the money on herself, she saves it in an envelope. On a time schedule known only to Mom, she’ll give the envelope to someone in the family or a friend in need to make a difference in their lives. Thus was born “mad” or make a difference money. In continuing her tradition, I will donate $5 from every item sold on this website to charities fighting every day to make a difference.