They say one photo can hold a thousand words—so at this point, I must be working on a few novels. My life has stretched across four continents and wound through three careers, but the one thread running through it all has been my love of photography.
I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and aside from the monkeys on my university campus, it could’ve been Texas. I grew up with a brother obsessed with cows, a mum who made Sunday dinners feel like a weekly holiday, and a dad who made sure I knew every classic rock anthem by heart. Yet even with all that love, I always had an itch to live life a little differently—to explore beyond what I knew.
I started by making the jump to Australia before eventually settling in South Korea. In that first move, I had to sort through everything I owned. Amid the chaos of downsizing, one thing was certain: the photo of my grandmother was coming with me. It’s the only photo I have of her, and it holds all the love she gave me before passing away. I didn’t know how, but I knew I wanted to help others hold onto memories like that too.
At first, photography wasn’t my job but just my passion. South Korea brought me new languages, new faces, new smells, new stories—it was all so alive. I’d always loved storytelling, but being in a new world made me crave a way to hold onto it all. That’s when I picked up my iPhone and started snapping—inot for Instagram, not for perfection, but for memory. For the tiny, tender, fleeting stuff that made life feel big.
These moments, like meeting my future wife, Valerie, our trips to Jeju Island, and staying in traditional villages, live on in my memory every day thanks to the images. And through these images, I see myself grow up—both literally and artistically—as I documented the neighborhoods, markets, and quiet routines that shaped me.
During the pandemic, Valerie and I traveled to America, got married, and never looked back. While waiting on my green card, I had this wild window of time to just practice. No pressure. Just photography and joy with my cats, my niece, and Valerie dancing in the kitchen. Every photo reminded me, “Capturing love matters.”
The encouragement of my friends and family led me to start two image and video businesses: Merrick Multimedia (for commercial work and branding) and Hey Love Studio (for all the warm, vibrant, love-celebrating moments). Photography has taken me across California, Arkansas, Colorado—and even Canada! And no matter where I go, it’s the same magic: light, connection, and the deep honor of witnessing something real.
Travel cracked me open, and photography stitched me together. Whether it’s a backyard wedding in Santa Rosa or a museum in Arkansas, I show up with my camera and my whole heart. Because joy multiplies when you have the courage to chase it—camera in hand.