Okay here goes. My name is Zalmy Berkowitz and I’m a natural light photographer based out of Long Beach, California. I live here with my wife of 6 years and 4 kids, whom I love more than the world. As I’m sure has happened to many, it was them who got me into this whole photography madness.

Here’s how it went down:

Boy is born, stumbles through life until he meets a girl. They fall madly in love and get married. They escape to Safed, Isreal for a year (boy do I miss that place!). After they move to Long Beach they have kid number 1. Then 2. Dad’s like “OMG My kids are drop dead gorgeous and they are growing up before my eyes! I need a camera!”. So dad picks up a camera. And some books. And some more cameras. And some more books. Then some film. And some more cameras. Then kids numero 3 and 4.

Dad finally realizes. Wow! I’m good at this and I love this. I love telling stories. I love capturing emotions. I love making people smile. I love making people happy.

And that’s the truth.

A little bit about me. I was brought up in Huntington Beach as the son of the Chief Rabbi (well the only Rabbi…). My formal schooling took me from LA to New York to Israel, back to New York, back to Israel and was completed (at least as of now) in South Africa. I graduated with the equivalent of a BA in Rabbinic Studies (yes, I’m a Rabbi. How cool is that?). I spent a good amount of time traipsing around the world; much of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia (and not one photo. Didn’t even own a camera. Dork.). Shortly thereafter I married my beautiful wife (well she wasn’t my wife yet) and spent our first year together in the aforementioned city of Safed, Israel.

I like solitude, fresh air, coffee. I love the mountains. Even though I grew up in Surf City I was never into the beach scene. Give me a cabin in the woods somewhere and I’m a very happy man. A beer and a cheese sandwich would make it even better.

I’m simple, uncomplicated and honest and my photography reflects that. I capture the joy of life, the beauty of family, the awesomeness of marriage, and the good times in between. So grab a brew, browse around and if you like what you see let me know!

Peace, love, harmony and something fermented. Life’s good.

Zalmy Berkowitz. Photographer extraordinaire.