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I was given my first camera by my grandmother, Josephine when I was 5 years old. It was an old box Brownie camera, probably in the family for years. I walked around my house taking pictures of the all my surroundings. I was very intrigued with photography, but didn’t get hooked until my mom, Eva gave me a Pentax K1000 when I was 16. Then, I started shooting for my high school yearbook and the local newspaper the Argus Courier in Petaluma, Ca. I was actually getting paid as a professional photographer when I was 17 to shoot the high school football games. That’s when I decided to major in photojournalism at San Jose State University. My dad, Thomas said that he would agree to that major as long as I backed it up with a minor in Business/Marketing. ‘You can be the greatest photographer in the world, but if you can’t market yourself, you can’t be professional’ –Thomas Caulfield, my dad. He was right. After college, I went on to the Associated Press as a staff photographer and then, with a great team, on to create the #1 entertainment photography wire service in the world, WireImage.com.

Michael Caulfield is a WireImage Co-Founder. Michael is a highly respected professional photographer producing exclusive celebrity content. In addition to content production, he was responsible for the recruitment of professional photographers world-wide, as well as securing celebrity investors and building and maintaining relationships with key management and publicists. Prior to WireImage, Michael covered many of the major news events in the last two decades. During his years with the Associated Press, he covered the O.J. Simpson trial, the Rodney King trial, the L.A. riots, the Oklahoma City bombing trial, President Bush, President Clinton, earthquakes, fires, World Series, Super Bowl, World Cup Soccer, NBA Championships, the Oscars, the GRAMMYS, the Golden Globes and many more. Michael's photos have been on the cover of The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, International Herald Tribune, USA Today, People Magazine; his photos are featured regularly in these publications as well as Newsweek, Time, Life, US News & World Report, Business Week, Sports Illustrated, among others.

Michael Caulfield has traveled the world as a photojournalist. However, on his initial trip to Sierra Leone, Africa, he was so moved by the amazing spirit of the children, he decided to aid in an extraordinary mission to help the region. The charity, Finaza Foundation was born.

The Finaza Foundation is a 501c3, that is committed to the enrichment of impoverished children’s lives in Kono, Sierra Leone. Finaza provides primary school scholarships for deserving children, and produces an annual community-building soccer tournament. By collaborating with worldwide partners and organizations, which are also dedicated to the enhancement of underdeveloped communities in need, Finaza helps to build and sustain worldwide attention on the problems of Kono, Sierra Leone and looks to develop new programs that will help cultivate, enrich and sustain the lives of the Kono people.

Finaza Foundation has evolved into a trusted and reliable non-governmental organization (NGO) for the people of Kono. The emotional reaction to the organization’s annual soccer tournament and academic scholarships, from the children, the parents and the various chiefdoms in the region far exceeded Finaza’s expectations.

Finaza’s future plans are to increase humanitarian efforts in the Kono region by supporting schools with computer labs and media centers; by developing educational and health programs; by providing opportunities for children to participate in global student exchange programs; by providing increasing infrastructure through the building of parks, schools, and recreational facilities; and ultimately by teaching sustainable living and a means of economic growth.

Michael’s involvement with the Finaza Foundation was triggered by the bedside vigil for his friend Adisa Septuri during his deadly bout with the Hanta Virus. Michael has held true to his convictions and has been an integral part of the Finaza Foundation, helping to achieve the goals the organization has set forth. Michael’s personal mission is to see the Kono people become self-supporting by transforming the Kono region into a sustainable community in its own right.

BIO:

PROJECTS:

• FINAZA FOUNDATION - Charity

Michael Caulfield © Copyright 2015