Hi there, my name is Chad Umberger, owner of C.U. Fotography! Why an “F”? Is it to stand out? Is it comical? Is it trying to be different while having the same phonetics? Maybe, perhaps, and could be. Actually, there is no rhyme or reason other than my simple desire to be a bit different in a world of conformity. This is my general approach to life; I like being just a tad different. Okay, so I know you want to know a bit about me, my photography, and my “whys”.

I was born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in the small suburb community of Essex, MD not far outside the city limits. Essex has gotten a pretty bad rap since my childhood days, but looking back I believe it may be part of the reason I learned to love photography. Now, that being said, I didn’t pick up a camera until after I turned 30. My thought is that growing up here, water, sunrises, parks, birds were never far away. I was always able to see more than a pier in the water or feel like a sunrise is just another start of another long day. I see beauty in things, and it took me 30 years or more to understand how to share what I see with others. As an adult I lived in Anne Arundel County for a few years and now back in Baltimore County for the last 7.

Enough of the boring stuff!

I was gifted my first camera for Christmas by my amazing wife. We didn’t know what would come of it but it was a Nikon D3200 with 2 kit lenses. The first photos I ever took were black. I had no clue what to do, or what I was doing. I immediately went on the Youtube watching circuit, where I would learn some basics. I began friending some local photographers and learning from them, and I sometimes still do. I put all of this here because I am so grateful for everyone who has helped me along the way.

Once I had some semblance of what I was doing, the first subjects I cut my teeth on were sunrises. At the time, I lived where we could see the sun rising every morning on the horizon and what’s more, I was a 5 minute walk from astonishing sunrises on the water.

Aside from our careers, my wife and I have spent almost the entirety of our relationship volunteering with a local all-volunteer dog rescue. We started out fostering puppies, which helped grow my photography. I started taking photos of dogs, for ourselves and the rescue adoption pages. These rescue dogs hold a very special place in our heart and being able to capture them in a photo is just a fulfilling feeling. It marks the end of a journey and the beginning of a new one.

I have now grown to using a Nikon D750. It was certainly a learning curve as I took the step from the D-7200. I love it. I think it is an amazing camera, but something was missing. I didn’t have a lens to shoot wide and clean with, and I didn’t have a lens to zoom in tight and clear with. This is when I found about about a new lens company called Irix. A 15mm, manual focus lens, and guess what? It made a world of difference. I love, love, love my Irix 15mm and now my even wider 11mm! The 15mm Blackstone seemingly made it so that I could get the whole universe in my viewfinder – imagine what the 11mm did. I owe a majority of my photos to the Irix lineup, which now includes a 150mm Macro lens. 

That solved the going wider issues, but what about tighter for birds and wildlife? I made a decision on a Sigma 150mm-600mm contemporary lens, which for a third or fourth time has been life-changing for me in terms of photography. I could see details on birds that were nowhere near me.

I know this was a lot of information, I am sorry, but you asked about me :). I want to bring some pop to your home or office, or even desk. My goal is to make you smile when you see my photos. Thanks for stopping by!

I hope you enjoy your visit here, be sure to check out my portfolio and the rest of the page!