My family never did this but, as I watch families on TV, they have a tradition of going around the table to say what they are thankful for. I would have a hard time with this one…too many things to be thankful for. Family, friends, health, comfort, travel, and freedom to do what I love.

What I love to do is photography. It started as a hobby back in high school, became a part time job in college as a wedding photographer’s assistant, a part time career as a wedding photographer and then I gave it up. Wedding photography is difficult work.
During that time, I spent three summers as a commercial photographer’s assistant. I fell in love with commercial still life and wanted to become a professional food and product photographer. But, unlike wedding photography, you can’t do that on weekends so I just did photography as a hobby again.

When I retired from my career as a chemistry teacher in Brooklyn, NY (no, don’t feel bad for me, I was in a great school and I had the best students) I began my career as a commercial still life photographer specializing in food. And believe me, I am very thankful for that opportunity…I love it. I still travel (going to Vegas soon and then Cuba) and I still do photography as a hobby but, the challenge of food photography is what keeps my juices flowing. So, I am really thankful for my clients, my team and my wife for giving me about 1/4 of the house to do this.

Please visit my portfolio at www.photography-by-jerry.com and I hope you enjoy viewing it as much as I did shooting it. My latest photo book can be seen HERE. You can always contact me by e-mail at jerry@photography-by-jerry.com. Thanks for reading and have a great holiday.