FILMING DISCIPLINE HITS DIFFERENT
Photography and videography of martial artists is my favorite sport to film because it allows me to stay deeply connected to a world I’ve lived in, trained for, and respect immensely. Having trained on and off and earned my duty as a kickboxer, I understand what it takes to step into a combat sport… the discipline, sacrifice, fear, and resilience that exists. I don’t just see movement when I’m behind the camera; I recognize timing, intent, fatigue, and heart. Watching fights on TV is something I’ve always loved, but capturing them through my own lens brings me closer to the truth of the sport in a way few perspectives can.
My love for photographing and filming martial artists runs deep because I feel the energy through the lens. Every exchange carries emotion… focus, aggression, doubt, and determination which are all happening in fractions of a second. Being behind the camera lets me translate that intensity into something lasting, freezing moments that tell the story of a fighter’s journey. It’s not just about action shots; it’s about honoring the craft, the courage, and the raw humanity of combat. Through my work, I aim to capture the spirit of martial arts as it’s truly lived, felt, and fought.
hot florida summer shoot at 7am
There’s something to be said about those that get up to grind before the sunrise. My friend Rodney was always one of them. I met Rodney in 2025 training at the Collective Jiu Jitsu and MMA. He was always on the early morning grind and he put in some true dedication to the sport. He was definitely pretty inspiring to watch during that time.
The shoot above was right after the sunrise during the hot Florida summer. Rodney had just put in work with our Coach and being able to capture some shots like this was awesome. I remember posting these and Fairtex ended up resharing on their page and I was so excited because it definitely helped gain some exposure on my work.
TAMPA UFC | BELLATOR VETERAN AALON CRUZ
As I mentioned in my intro, I have studied different martial art techniques throughout my adult life. In my late 20’s I met one of my coaches, Aalon Cruz at a MMA gym in Tampa, Florida. Through my years of learning from him, I studied both No Gi Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing and Muay Thai. I was also grateful enough to have had the opportunity to work with him at his recent gym, “Collective Jiu-Jitsu and MMA”, and help him build his brand at his fully owned gym, “Tribe Jiu Jitsu and Kickboxing”. (Click here to view brand sample)
I think it’s definitely important to have some type of mentor, coach, or simply someone you look up to. I would be lying if I said Aalon wasn’t a big positive push of support during my journey into professional photography, and was even more encouraging when I discovered a strong niche for the martial arts world. I was pretty stoked with how the photoshoot above came out. I spent a while in Adobe LightRoom trying to create the perfect preset. I wanted something bold, fierce and deep. (Referenced above)
KICKBOXING PHOTOSHOOT AT GOTHAM GYM MIAMI
I met Delfi Brauti via instagram. I believe it was around Christmas as I was promoting a Black Friday shoot special when I received her message. Not only do I love filming the martial arts world, but it’s pretty cool showcasing women in this sport so this opportunity was a no brainer to set up.
As I spend half of my schedule in Miami, I had the opportunity to check out a new gym for this shoot called “Gotham Gym” which also resides in New York. Upon arrival both Brauti and head Coach were there with a welcoming spirit and ready to showcase some top quality training.