Marvin is a professional aviation, automotive and event photographer based out of Michigan. Though most of his career has not been in aviation, his love for all things aviation and aerospace has been ingrained in him since the age of two. His skill in photography, his ability to have a knack for marketing and his relationship building skills has quickly made a name for himself in the Airshow community from the teams as someone they can trust and have expect to provide excellence in his job and also be a great friend who is not trying to get anything out of it. He is the chief photographer/videographer for 6 airshows across the Midwest and East coast. 

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Brian:

I find your aviation photography amazing and inspiring in how you are able capture aircraft in flight and the power behind them with such realisim and detail. It is as if they become frozen in time. What does it take to be able to do this?

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Marvin:

I appreciate the compliment. To be honest I just shoot what looks good in my eye. Sometimes there is a time where I’m looking for a specific shot but I never walk in with a shot list. If it looks good I’ll snap it, I don’t always come out with a ton of keepers, but it’s how I like to shoot.

 

Brian:

Where did your love for aviation and photography begin?

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Marvin:

My love for aviation started very young thanks to my dad. Saw my first airshow when I was 2 and I was hooked. Didn’t fall in love with civil aircraft as much as the military side. For me fighters is where I live and love. Photography funny enough never came early on. I tell people I was forced into it from a coworker, I never wanted to be a photographer because I felt like everyone I knew was a photographer.

 

Brian:

What do you love the most about what you do?​

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Marvin:

The relationships with the teams and pilots. I love shooting and that’s a big part but really building those relationships, meeting new team members and then keeping in touch with them after they depart their separate teams is so rewarding for me.

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Brian:

What do you find most challenging about aviation photography?

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Marvin:

The most challenging thing for me would be to come up with different style of images when you are in the same place as other photogs. I have a specific style I like to go for but coming up with different yet compelling imagery is tough sometimes.

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Brian:

At which airshows are you the chief photographer and what is a chief photographer?

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Marvin:

I am the chief photog for Thunder Over Michigan, Milwaukee Air and water Show (water stone bank) Gary Air and Water Show, Battle Creek Field Of Flight, Chicago Air and water Show. The chief photog is responsible for providing the marketing and promotional imagery for the show to be used in the following year. It's also responsible for leading the media teams associated with the show and in some cases for met shows it is also responsible for coordinating any external platforms needed to capture imagery inside the box and submit proposals and approvals for those platforms.

 

Brian:

Do you get any particular reactions from others while photographing aircraft during airshow events?

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Marvin:

I dont typically get reactions from people while I'm photographing. For the most part I look like everyone else. The only time that’s not apparent is if I'm on the flight line where others aren’t typically at.

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Brian:

How do others respond to your photos? Do you get requests?

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Marvin:

Most of the pilots and teams are pretty excited about the imagery I can come up with. This is great confirmation for me and then im requested at different shows that are not mine to be considered a team member at those select shows. This also helps me network out to other performers I haven’t worked with yet or shows. 

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Brian:

Do you have any stories about anything that is unusual or funny that occurred while shooting?

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Marvin:

The only funny thing that has happened to me when photographing shows is I was assigned to shoot some air2air photography for the blue angels and F35C team in Chicago. Unfortunately the aircraft was not pressurized and I did not have a mask on. We were supposed to stay below 12,500ft so I would not lose oxygen and we ended up at 13,500 for a few minutes until the pilot noticed that I was pretty weak in the back seat and apologized before dropping us back down. We laughed about it but it was a wild experience.

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Brian:

Do you have a favorite aircraft you like to photograph?

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Marvin: 

I've been called the “Hog Photog” but realistically I like photographing all types. The hardest would be the F16.

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Brian:

Are you a pilot or would you like to be?​

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Marvin:

I am not a pilot but would love to be however I feel like that time has come and gone especially with 2 little ones and a wife.

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Brian:

If you could fly in any aircraft, what would it be?

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Marvin:

If it was still in service it would have to be the Tomcat but if it's current production then I would say Super Hornet all day.

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Brian:

Are you a pilot watch fan? If yes, do you have a favorite brand, model, or style?

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Marvin:

I am a pilot watch fan but sadly the only brands I know that make them are BYOP and Citizen and I remember when I was a little younger I had always wanted the citizen blue angels watch but its pretty expensive.

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Brian:

BYOP stands for Be Your Own Pilot and to me, it represents my personal journey rising above challenges I've faced and charting my own course in life. My hope is that it inspires others to do the same and share their unique gifts with the world. With this in mind, what dreams have you fulfilled or would you like to fulfill in your future?

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Marvin:

As far as dreams go I just hope that people realize that constantly gloating work out over and over is fine but I’ve made my success not necessarily from my work but a combination of my work, leadership and my ability to foster relationships and I hope I can inspire others to think in this way.

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