Lucas Mobley

I have always been a photographer. I took my first photojournalism class in junior college when I was 16. The class was taught by the managing editor of the acclaimed local paper. After that class, I was able to earn an "internship" in the photography department at that paper. Since then, I have never worked outside of photography.I like to think of my first job an internship anyway. Some might disagree. My job title was "lab technician." For my boss at the time, the problem must have been that his new lab tech wouldn't put down his camera. The fact of the matter was, being a lab tech was boring. I wanted to make pictures.Making pictures is fun. For a time, I would race to wildfires on my off time, getting there before the papers' staff photographers. It quickly became apparent that I should be shooting photos, not processing film. Luckily, my boss must have seen this and shifted my responsibilities to allow for more shooting.I worked as an intern at the paper for two years. Then, with the assistance of recommendations and persistent phone calls from several editors, I was one of four transfer students allowed into Ohio University's renowned School of Visual Communication in fall 2002. I graduated in 2003 with a BS in Photojournalism. I interned in Michigan, Ohio and Maryland before taking a staff position back home at the Record Searchlight.Over the past 4 years I have received regional and national awards from countless organizations. I have been recognized for sports, news, feature, and sport news photographs by the National Press Photographers Association. I placed in the top 10 in 2005 in the highly competitive NPPA Region 10 Clip Contests. I have received awards from Scripps Howard Newspapers, Maryland - Delaware Press Association, APNEC, and California Press Photographers Association, just to name a few.But those awards don't mean much to me. They are only a piece of paper saying that someone else liked my images best. What I want, is to be able to say that I like my images best.I want to make images that my subjects love. Now, I have made the transition away from the steady pay of a staff photographer position to work as a self employed photojournalist. In the past, I've kept my cool and made powerfull images covering countless wildfires. I am ready to use my hard earned skills and experience to make compelling and impact full images for people who want to hire a real photojournalist.I am available in Washington, California, Oregon and beyond for weddings, portraits, editorial and advertising.Check out my work at Seattle Wedding Photogaphy