Biography for Paul Retherford
This next week I have agreed to do a talk on flash photography and getting your flash off of camera to create drama. It is an honor to stand in front of a group and have them sit and listen to what I have to say.
I was asked to create a biography for the talk. Kind of interesting to think back on my life and put it into a short blurb. I feel blessed to have done a good amount of travel and activities with the time I had available. Here is what I wrote for the biography of Paul Retherford.
Paul Retherford believes he has never “worked” a day in his life.
Paul grew up in Alpena, Michigan. Paul’s photography interest began in
7th grade Yearbook. He spent summers fishing on family charterboats.
Paul attended St. Norbert College. During college, Paul traveled to
Washington, D.C. for a semester, Kenya, East Africa, Panama,
throughout Europe, and extensively in the United States. He captured
his first wedding in Seville, Spain.
After college, Paul volunteered in AmeriCorps in Northern California.
Paul worked with the Department of Fish and Game and carried his
camera daily in the Redwoods while surveying streams for Coho salmon
and Steelhead.
Paul has photographed and traveled via car in all 50 states. He has
done multiple solo trips across the United States and has seen almost
all of the National Parks.
Paul lived in the Florida Keys for one year and spent most of his time
there fishing on a charterboat. Paul is currently a 100-ton Master
Captain. He also studied all the way to his PADI Divemaster
Certification.
Paul came back to the Midwest settling in Chicago where his current
wife, Megan, was working on her doctorate of Psychology. He lived in
Chicago for almost three years. Paul married Megan in Key West, FL.
He then moved back to Michigan, settling in the SW town of Allegan, MI.
He lived in Allegan for 4 years. He then moved to the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan (Rudyard) where he lived another 4 years.
Currently, Paul is a Professional Wedding Photographer living in
Petoskey, Michigan. Paul has lived in Petoskey since January 2012. He
photographs approximately 25 Wedding commissions per year, including
international destinations. He has captured over 450 Weddings and
Events.
Paul is a member of Canon Professional services, Professional
Photographer of American, Wedding and Portrait Photographers
International, and National Association of Photoshop Professionals.
Paul has two children and two dogs. Paul enjoys hiking, biking, fishing,
hunting with his dogs, travel, skiing, snowshoeing, camping, microbrew
beers, seared tuna, reading, kayaking, boating, playing with his kids,
and of course all types of photography.
