My mentors are Jeff Kennedy in Oregon, and Matt Reyes in California - they were the first photographers to teach me and I will never forget them! They really gave out of the kindness of their hearts and, even now, I'm still kind of suprised that they would have done that.  I'd like to assist either of those two one day. I'd also love to work with  Jeremy Sparling, Israel Colon, Alexei Tikohnov, Cheryl Jacobs, Kirk Voclain, Gary Box...  Anthony Cramer... there are a ton of photographers on various websites that I visit that I'd love to meet and assist. My heros include  Herb Ritts, Annie Leibowitz, David LaChapelle, Patrick DeMarchelier, George Hurrell, Helmut Newton, I'm really getting into Mark Seliger too. My inspirations are obviously the big magazines like Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Vogue...but also just everything!  Nature, the weather, my girls, emotions, music..whatever catches my thoughts...