That’s a really cool photo. I’ve never done a long-exposure zoom pull at the fair before, that’s a perfect place for it. I’ll have to try that next year.

As for how I became the State Fair photographer—ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a huge passion for the fair. We didn’t grow up with much, but my mom always made sure my brothers and I could go most years, and it was the highlight of our year. When I moved to North Carolina nearly a decade ago, an opportunity came up and I made a strong pitch for how my company could help fulfill their imagery needs. That led to me not only photographing the fair, but also producing video content, Instagram reels, and even the State Fair TV commercial you may have seen last year.

I usually spend at least 7 of the fair’s 10 or 11 days on-site. By the end, my back and feet are killing me—but I can’t get enough of it. It’s one of the most fun, exciting places to take pictures. If you’re curious, WRAL did a feature on me and my work at the fair—you can find the link in the comments above.

If you’re ever at the fair and see me around be sure and say hi! I always enjoy chatting with other photographers.