Kirk John Mitchell has been a professional photographer for more than a decade. His love of photography began in childhood. Following his graduation from Portage High School in 1982, Kirk's ambition took him to Florida and the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale. After earning his associate's degree in photography, Kirk gained valuable experience by working in a variety of areas in his chosen craft, including portraiture, weddings and commercial photography. Upon returning to Indiana in 1989, Kirk widen his scope to print journalism, shooting on both the editorial and advertising sides. On staff at The Times since 1992, Kirk currently serves as the manager of both the Advertising Photography and the Pre-Press departments. He resides in Valparaiso, Indiana with his wife and son.