Rich Kopp started teaching himself photography in 1982.  Since that time he has shot photos in most areas of photography from aerials to weddings to car shows. He has had no formal classes and has learned through reading, practice and experimentation. 

Since 1982, Rich has taught himself to use 35mm, Medium format, 4X5 cameras and Studio lighting systems. Since 2003 he has been teaching himself Digital Photography using the Nikon D1x and D70 systems.

In 1987 Rich started shooting his Civil War Ghost photos at the reenactments at Beauvoir using a Super Ricohflex twin lens, a camera which went out of production in 1962

Rich spent the last 7 years of his military career in the U.S. Air Force, 1st Combat Camera Sqdn. shooting video and stills and learning from the outstanding photographers he met (he retired in 97).

In 1999, after 2 years with WLOX TV13 in Biloxi as a news and sports photographer, Rich was hired by Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College as the District Photographer.  At the college he shoots most events and also does portraits, sports and even landscapes of the campuses for advertising and all publications.  He also shoots video of various events to use in video projects and commercials for the college and is the lead videographer for college's participation in the Veterans History Project.

Rich teaches non-credit classes in Fundamentals of Photography as part of the colleges Community Campus Continuing Education program. He also volunteers his expertise as camera operators for the broadcast of the 11am service of the First Baptist Church of Biloxi on Sunday mornings on WLOX.

" I love photography, it is like my therapy. When I get stressed out with work and life I know I can pick up my camera and it all just melts away. I have been around the world shooting photographs and for me there is nothing like shooting the sunrises and sunsets, lighthouses and wildlife of my home in south Mississippi. "