Joe's Bio

                        Joe was born in Chicago in the year of 1961, the second of five kids to Richard and Joanne Kay. During his summer before his high school senior year, he managed to finally snare his sixth grade crush, Nancy . After high school, Joe had no Idea what he wanted to do. Perhaps a future in a machine shop was in store for him, like many of his relatives before him. After a six week stunt at a mold shop, he was thankfully let go due to lack of math skills, and a total lack of desire. Just by chance soon after, he answered an ad in the paper for a position at Kaiser's Photo Lab in Elk Grove, IL. He convinced the owner of his knowledge from high school graphic arts class and began his career in the field. After seeing so many sub par photographers come through the lab, he decided to try it himself. Many, many, many books from the library later, and wasted film, he had a basic knowledge of camera and lighting control and began to gather a few clients. In 1983, Joe and Nancy finally got married.

             In 1987, Joe started his own studio in Itasca, IL and the game was on. Through the years he has had studios in Elk Grove, Palatine and Arlington Heights as well.  In 1989, Joe and Nancy had a boy named Andrew and then another boy, James in 1991. A few crossroads and diversions came about through the years, but all was handled with complete ignorance and blind luck.

It has now been twenty years and things are going well, thanks to a group of loyal clients who somehow stick by my side.

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