Ever Onward: A Life in Pursuit of Beauty
If there’s one thread that runs through everything I do — from camera work to fatherhood to the way our family learns together — it’s the desire to create beauty. Beauty that endures, beauty that reveals truth, and beauty that reminds us of the sacredness woven into the ordinary.
For over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of serving as part of the leadership team at Spirit Juice Studios, a Chicago-based Catholic media and film production company dedicated to crafting world-class stories that inspire faith and imagination. What began as a small three-person operation has grown into one of the largest and most respected Catholic studios in the world — a place where artistry meets mission, and where I’ve had the joy of helping shape the culture, vision, and creative output as both Creative Director and now Executive Vice President. Along the way, our films and media projects have earned numerous regional Emmy Awards, Gabriel Awards, and other honors — but more importantly, they’ve helped bring truth and beauty to millions across the globe through the power of Catholic storytelling.
Yet, even outside the studio walls, that same creative fire continues to guide my pursuits.
Through Cairnlight Co., I’ve poured years of experience as a filmmaker, cinematographer, and creative director into a personal, purpose-driven venture — one that captures both the adventurous and contemplative sides of visual storytelling. It’s a place for documentary and narrative video projects that echo the rugged beauty of creation and the quiet light of faith. Cairnlight is about stacking stones that last — forging stories and collaborations that point toward what is eternal.
And then there’s That Vintage Lens — a slower, more reflective corner of my creative life. Born from a love of analog photography, it’s a journal of rediscovery: of craft, patience, and the tactile joy of making images that breathe. It’s where I write about old cameras and new perspectives, the intersection of technology and timelessness, and the ways we can recover meaning through the act of seeing. In a world driven by the pace of digital media, it’s a reminder that filmmaking and photography both began as acts of quiet wonder.
But perhaps the most meaningful work I’ve ever been a part of happens at home. My wife, Alea, and I are raising four children — three boys and a girl — and together we run our small homeschool, The Flanagan Academy. It’s named in honor of Fr. Edward J. Flanagan, founder of Boys Town and, I’m certain, a future saint. His belief that “there are no bad boys” and his tireless work for the dignity of every child have deeply inspired our family. We had the great privilege of helping tell his story through our feature-length documentary film, Heart of a Servant, and his witness continues to shape the way we teach, love, and live at home.
Our days at The Flanagan Academy are filled with learning, field trips, and a kind of formation that blends wonder with discipline — where math lessons are followed by nature walks, and where faith isn’t a subject but a way of life.
In between it all, there are the quieter joys: shooting VHS tapes of the kids, traveling to national parks, restoring vintage bikes, cooking on cast iron, and finding new places to camp and photograph. I’ve always believed that beauty isn’t reserved for grand projects — it’s something you steward in the everyday. Whether that’s a family meal, a well-lit shot, or a well-formed soul, the call is the same: to create with intention and gratitude.
My work — across Spirit Juice Studios, Cairnlight Co., That Vintage Lens, and The Flanagan Academy — isn’t a collection of separate pursuits, but one continuous expression of vocation. It’s about bearing an indomitable spirit, illuminating the soul through media, and cultivating the kind of common ground where faith, art, and family all meet.
So wherever you’ve come from — whether you’re a fellow filmmaker, a parent, a pilgrim, or simply someone searching for meaning — welcome. This site is an open window into that journey. Here you’ll find reflections on cinematography and craftsmanship, Catholic storytelling and creative leadership, photography and philosophy, faith and the wilderness — all interwoven by one enduring conviction:
Beauty matters — because it points us home.
Ever onward.
