HEY THERE
I’M SPENCER,
BUT YOU CAN
CALL ME SPENCE
I was born and raised in Grand Ledge, Michigan, and after bouncing around a bit after college (Buena Vista, Colorado and Asheville, North Carolina) I finally settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan where I currently reside. I’m married to a beautiful woman named Erin who just makes everything a whole lot better and brighter, including myself.
My first camera was a Canon Rebel 2000 film camera I bought for $50 off a guy on Craigslist during my senior year of college. I was really drawn to the simplicity and mechanics behind the process of film; I found myself feeling invited to look deeper into the scenes already around me, including that which might have been glanced over or considered insignificant. I would bring it along to social gatherings, on trips, back home- anywhere I went, really. With a camera in my hands I was even more drawn to observe people more closely; how they smile when told a joke, where they cast their gaze when thinking about something they love, etc. People’s full humanity became something I could never not want to study.
Apart from photography, some of my favorite things are strolls along the shores of Lake Michigan, camping, cold IPA’s on the back deck, raw denim, SNL, and fires in the fireplace. I love working on and riding motorcycles; currently I own a 1976 Honda CB 550 cafe racer and a 1999 Harley Davidson Sportster 1200. My first job was at Chipotle in high school, and I still passionately pledge allegiance to their delicious burritos. I grew up playing soccer since I was 5, and will gladly scream my face off at the TV during the World Cup. I have a deep love and loyalty to music as well, ranging from 90’s hip-hop to the emo music I listened to in high school. Some of my favorite musical artists I return to are Manchester Orchestra, Kings of Leon, Nirvana, The National, Ruston Kelly, and Noah Gundersen.
