Jonathan was hatched in 1956 and developed his first roll of Plus-X at age 12. He hated high school, the students, and all of his teachers with the exception of his two mentors, Richard Olderman and Kevin Dole. It was at this point in his life that he realized that girls, art, and pizza were to be a crucial part of his creative development. During the summer of 1973, Jonathan attended an Ansel Adams workshop in Yosemite Park. Along with Ansel, (who saved his life!) visiting artists included Jerry Uelsmann, Brassai, Morley Baer, and a host of others.

Jonathan is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design. In 1980, he decided to start my own studio with only $45 in his pocket and a piece of cold pizza. Today, 29 years later, the business has grown from one employee to one employee; He's joined by his fine wife Pam and four cats, Oscar, Jiffy, Ella and Hoover.

Walter Raczynski was the first, and last Chicago photographer that Jonathan would assist when he was learning the ropes. Shooting everything from food to fashion, he also concentrated on his own personal work. All of Walter's work was amazing. Defining Renaissance man, Walter was constantly inventing, building, and reinventing things.

Sadly, Jonathan was probably the worst photo assistant that he could have had step foot in his former pepper-factory studio. Jonathan still muses that someday he'll pay Walter back for work-time lost.

Aside from photography, Jonathan have been an accomplished guitarist for 38 years, is very good at woodworking and carpentry, and has a peculiar passion for oil painting and oil pastels, as well as barbequing!

His clients claim to like working with someone they can get along with, as well as someone who is willing to bend over backwards to make sure the job is done right, on-time, and within budget. Great work has come from his simple business philosophy: never take anything too seriously and enjoy the people you work with.

For more information about photographic and video services and the studio, please click here.