Jay Grabiec
Mattoon, IL, United States
As a kid I was always involved in Scouting and became an Eagle Scout. There is a saying about nature I've taken with me that goes, 'Take only photographs and leave only footprints.' My life long goal is to generate change in our world in a positive way. When I was younger, I was not sure what vehicle to use to create such change . Aspirations to become a marine biologist, enter the field of sociology, build houses, run a restaurant, and teach special education are all avenues that I have started to go down; all with the intention to help people. After studying at Eastern Illinois University I was fortunate enough to travel to Haiti.
There I realized that the power of photography to bring information to the masses was the way in which I would make my attempt at changing the world. That is what I am trying to do now.
For several years I worked as a photojournalist and online editor at the Mattoon, Illinois Journal Gazette news paper.
Now I work as an Online Specialist at EIU. I live in town with my two roommates (the love of my life and wife Jill and son Hunter)
Young in the field and passionate about all the work I do, I am available to shoot weddings, engagement photos, sports, commercial work, portraits and just about anything else for a fair price. Just give me a call or send me an email and I'd be happy to talk with you.