Eighth grade was full of ups and downs for David Sacks. Up because he got his first girlfriend that year. Down because her name was Buffy. Up because she kissed him. Down because it happened to be the day that he got braces on his teeth. Up because she had braces, too. Down because she abruptly dumped him the following month. Up because he received a used 35mm camera for his birthday.
With no girlfriend around to lock braces with, David took pictures. He photographed neighborhood cats, flowers, bugs, relatives, and the family dog. A lot. Any money he made from mowing lawns or shoveling snow went towards one of two things: film or processing.
He went to Lehigh University for architecture in 1986, and was thinking about grad school in Hawaii when a friend with dreads and sandals suggested he take a photography course to fulfill a necessary elective. Dude, he said, you have to take a photo class! Its awesome! There are no tests or papers to write, you just take pictures, dude! Everything looks like art when its in black and white!
David followed his friends advice, and watched his architecture grades begin to slide as he spent days and nights in the darkroom when he wasnt out shooting. He just couldnt help it. Photography was all that he wanted to do with his time. He soon discovered that not every black and white photograph was actually art.
Thanks to his wise and kindly photo professor, Doug Mason, David decided that he probably would make a pretty mediocre architect, and decided to pursue a career in photography immediately after graduation in 1990.
After 4 years of assisting other photographers, he opened his own studio in Chelsea in New York City in 1994. While it took about 4 months of knocking on doors with his book to get a job, his first assignment was an 8-page spread in New York Magazine. After that, work just kept coming in. Soon afterward, he won photo competitions sponsored by Nikon, Photo District News, Communication Arts, Graphis, and others. He continues to shoot all over the world for advertising agencies, design firms, companies, and leading magazines.
He has shot in 23 countries and uses frequent flier miles to travel with his wife and 3 children. He has photographed thousands of people. He loves his job.