About
About Us
Chimpsy helps transform camera wielding hobbyists into skilled photographers. Our fun, casual, and engaging photography education and refreshment program is powered by professional photographers, seasoned educators, and you.
chimpsy ( chĭmp • sē ) adj. – a colloquial term used in digital photography to describe the habit of checking every photo on the camera display immediately after capture. Chimp is an acronym for CHeck IMage Preview.
Meet the Team
Mark Cafieroa Co-Founder, Photographer, and Instructor
My first camera didn’t even work, but my father stuffed the back of it with cartoons that he would draw of me and my sisters. I will never forget the magic I felt, even though I was only about 6 years old. When I was 13, my mother gave me a “real” camera and the rest is history; and my clients include hundreds of brides, professional athletic teams and athletes, restauranteurs, and celebrities.
The biggest honors I have received include speaking at the world-famous Wedding and Portrait Photographers International convention and trade show in Las Vegas for 4 years in a row, and also having my images featured in several books on photography, including “Best of Wedding Photojournalism“, by author Bill Hurter.
A degree in Marketing and a lifelong passion for photography, I conceived of Chimpsy in hopes to encourage everyone to shoot with the energy and precision that we used to shoot with back in the days of film and enjoy this incredible age of modern photography. You can learn more about me at my blog, and my photography site.
Follow me on Twitter
Shaun Worleya Co-Founder, Product and Marketing Lead
I have owned plenty of cameras over the years, but I have never considered myself photographer. My first nice camera was a Minolta 400si that I received as a gift over 15 years ago. Unfortunately, I think that it only saw about 4 rolls of film. However, I have always wanted to take amazing pictures and be proud of my galleries.
Spending the last 12 years overseeing eCommerce and other web-based programs at companies ranging from established Fortune 200 to thriving Inc 5000, it was time for a change. When Mark approached me with the Chimpsy concept, I knew that he was touching on an area that many online educational programs have been missing and I had to be a part of it.
Follow me on TwitterChimpsy Pros (Our Instructors)
Megan CooperDenver
Megan loves seeing people get excited about photography and expressing themselves through the lens. She runs her own wedding and family photography business and loves being active outdoors, cycling, camping and traveling. Her happiest moments are being with her family and showing her kids new adventures in life.
Dawn LoweryOrange County
Dawn is an avid wedding photographer, shooting for wordl-reknowned Jim Kennedy Photographers and is one of the most active photographers you’ll ever meet. Never with a shortage of shooting gigs, Dawn’s photographic talent is appreciated by thousands of clients in Orange County.
Max SavantMemphis
A native of Memphis, Max Savant (AKA Max McMullen) has been producing professional images for over 3 decades. His work has been seen by a worldwide audience through a myriad of venues. He has produced work for Federal Express, Maytag and Frito-Lay, as well as the 1988 Olympics
Roman VernerPhiladelphia
Roman Verner is a photographer that was born in the Czech Republic. He avidly self-taught himself the required photography skills he needed during his high school years and is currently studying biochemistry at Pennsylvania State University. He has won several competitions and has had his work used in an online Philadelphia travel guide.
Ben RollinsAtlanta
Ben Rollins is an artist and photographer living in Atlanta with his wife and their Golden Retriever. He is currently working on my MFA in photography at the Savannah College of Art & Design. His work has been used nationally to represent a variety of clients through print, online advertising, packaging and video.
Chris RyanPortland
Chris has been a professional photographer for over a decade, specializing in Commercial Advertising, Portraiture, Food, Music, and Sports. He lives in Portland and when not behind the lens you’ll find him in a tent, on a snowboard, a mountain bike, in a kayak, or enjoying one of the other activities that make the Pacific NW such a special place.
Hans HallgrenSan Diego
Hans Hallgren is a San Diego-based photographer who specializes in on-location and natural light portrait photography. He spent five years working as a photographer in daily news before moving to southern California to start his portrait business.
Israel HurstJacksonville
Born and raised in NE Florida, Israel has spent many years behind the camera capturing the diverse flora and fauna around him. From the banks of the St. Johns River to the shores of the Atlantic, from stunning close ups to dramatic landscapes, his work showcases the wonders surrounding our ever growing city.
Byron MedinaPhoenix
Byron has been expressing his creative side through the camera for more years in my life than not. Currently, his main focus in photography is that of Commercial and Editorial work, primarily people as subjects. Although he spans all photographic genres and categories, due to his love of the art and passion for teaching.
Terry ThibeauNew Orleans
Photography has been a passion of his for more than 30 years. He has been fortunate to have had great mentors, a fine education at Brooks Institute, and customers and clients who think his work is the best. He’s won awards in professional contests, seen his images on Interstate billboards in magazines and in catalogs.
Gina Radovcich Boise
Boise’s authentic lifestyle photographer and mother of two. Gina’s work reflects her personality; laid back & natural. She sees and strives to capture the beauty in the every-day moments that are often taken for granted. She has won two awards of excellence in photojournalism and we are thankful to have her on board.
Courtney DavidsonNashville
Courtney is a wedding and portrait photographer operating in NYC and Nashville, but proud to call Nashville home. She has a Bachelors in Photography from Birmingham-Southern College, and a Master in Photography from Parsons School of Design. Other than photography, she loves Military aircraft, roller coasters and Sundrop.
Phil BoltzColumbus / Indianapolis
Starting in travel images, Phil Boltz has traveled and worked in over 20 countries. With an MA in Teaching, Chimpsy balances twin passions of teaching and photography.
Mario ParnellSan Francisco
Mario is a San Francisco Bay Area native and a graduate, with high honors, of the Art Center College of Design. He has been producing photography for advertising and design communities for more than 15 years. Mario simply loves teaching people to trust their creativity. To quote Mario, “Cameras can be easy when you know what you want them to do.”
Rick StarkmanEncinitas / San Diego
His career as a commercial photographer spans over 20 years in the San Diego area. An early adopter of the digital workflow, he has been capturing digital images since 1995. He currently shoots for high tech and biotech industries in addition to fitness, architectural, and food shots for local and national corporations.
Lori BandiDallas
Lori is a commercial photographer in Dallas, and specializes in still-life product photography. She loves focusing on small details to create beautiful images that will make her clients money. As a former English teacher, she also enjoys sharing her love of photography in her Chimpsy classes.
Dara BrownBaltimore
Dara Brown is a mixed-media artist and photographer living in Baltimore with her husband, their 4 small children, and enormous tabby cat “Rhino.” — Dara has played the role of Art Director for a magazine publication and her work has been exhibited, used commercially in print, and has represented clients nationally. In addition to her fine art, and commercial work, she also has over 10 years experience as an instructor in the arts. If the saying is true, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” then Dara Brown has plenty to say. Dara infuses fine art techniques into her works and blends photojournalism and illustrative elements in with traditional photography.