About CPT Richard Von Trapp

I am a retired 30+ year U.S.Army veteran having served from Private to Master Sergeant and Second Lieutenant to Captain.

I started my first 2 decades as an Infantry Paratrooper and TO&E Pathfinder, but most of my time was as a Green Beret in Special Forces trained as a Light Weapons Sergeant, Medical Sergeant, and Survival Instructor (SERE), qualified as a Jump Master (Master Parachutist), Combat Diver and Dive Medical Technician.

As an officer I was trained as a Physician Associate, serving as the Battalion Surgeon in units of the 1st Armor Division in Germany and Bosnia. I finished my service as the OIC of a training team at the newly created Combat Medic (91W) training program. From mid 2001 to late 2004 I had the chance to directly instruct and significantly influence how we trained Combat Medics as a whole. During which time I was personally responsible for overseeing the creation of over 4000 medics.

My love of photography, like it is for so many photographers, developed at a young age (11) as I studied it in grade and high school. That love was put on hold for most of my 30 years of military service, and it was not until after retirement that I was able to leave one love for another, photography.

Prior to retiring from service I became a NAUI Mixed Gas OC/CCR Technical Scuba Diving Instructor. As a retiree, and while working aboard a research vessel as the diving, medical, and security officer, I also tried my hand at shooting underwater video, going on to follow my dream of becoming a woman's photographer in 2013, shooting boudoir and now creating fine art nudes, fashion and glamour.

I really love shooting on location, most often lighting with studio strobes and light modifiers to capture the richness of the set and to create the desired look. I greatly enjoy the process of detailed planning that I do when preparing for a shoot. Be it for a client or for my portfolio, made easy I am sure by years in the military. But even more so I love working with a client, seeing her excitement and joy when she is connected her to her glamour.

I was stationed in Germany for 12 years and love shooting overseas. Each year I make several trips abroad to shoot and work with talented models, and hair/ makeup artists. All of whom I am supremely thankful to for the art they have helped me to create.

I am humbled and inspired by the incredible photo artist's whose work I get to view daily, and strive every day to expand my skills.

One's life can be comprised of many things...perhaps the most important of which is learning and growing.

CPT. Richard von Trapp P.A., U.S. Army (Ret.)