I began my career as a news photographer in Oklahoma and California. It was a high stress job and the hours were never predictable, but it took me places and showed me things the public never sees. It also taught me how to approach just about anyone in any situation and communicate effectively with them. A reporter could always get the story after the fact over the phone. But for great news “moments” you had to be there in person and with a camera, which sometimes made you a local celebrity–or an easy target.