Welcome to my blog! This is where I will share my thoughts, what’s going on the photography industry, and photoshoots! I hope you enjoy!
Why I Show My Family Online
This is a topic that has a lot of controversy. I’m not saying my choice is right or wrong, just my thoughts! I show my family (including my child) on social media and even this website! If you go to the homepage, you see my family! My family means the world to me and I love showing photos of my son and giving updates. I show my family because I want you to know who I am when hiring me, but also because if we’re in public you are going to see them anyway. I understand the other side of it too.
I completely understand others who want to keep their kids and family private and not online or photos of them shared on social media. That being said, if I’m on a session and you have kids, but don’t want photos of them posted to my profile, I will of course oblige and only post the ones I am allowed. What are your thoughts? Am I in the minority of posting my family to my website and profile? Let me know!
Do I Use a Camera Strap?
There are many ways to carry my camera or cameras. I used to use a leather camera strap to bring my camera along wherever I’m going. This is a pretty standard way of carrying this piece of equipment. I don’t do this anymore. When I used a camera strap, it was always in the way, swinging around, and I was still using my hands to control the swing of the camera. I have since used a clip. It’s basically a clip that attaches to my hip or backpack strap and I attach my camera to that! This way both hands are free and my camera isn’t swinging around like it used to. This is how I carry my camera when I’m casually traveling.
When I’m on a paid shoot though, I use a leather harness. Think of the harness of a dual camera strap. I wear this harness similar to a backpack, allowing me to carry both of my cameras simultaneously. This way I can switch to a different camera with a different lens at a moment’s notice. I don’t have to change lenses every time I need a different angle or look. I would miss valuable moments if I had to change lenses all the time. To me, it is more professional looking, and it helps me get the shot I need, in the moment!
My Editing Style (Update)
Throughout my photography career, my editing style has definitely changed! I used to edit with a darker style in mind. But since then, I like editing with a true to life with a warm feel to it. Add a little bit of grain and I’m happy with it! I do tend to shoot with the final edit in mind.
With that being said, I do make sure my client is happy with the edit before I send the whole gallery. Some people aren’t fond of the warmer tones, and I am okay with slightly tweaking the photos to your liking. Most photographers don’t do this, but if you’re paying your hard earned money on me as a photographer, I want to make sure you are getting something you’re pleased with! It’s my job to make your photos look the way you want them. I don’t, however, change the way YOU look. I will of course remove acne and slightly smooth out any wrinkles, but I won’t remove or change anything that is there permanently. I want you to look like you! What do you want your photos to look like? Head over to the contact page and let me know what I can shoot for you!
How to Get Into Photography
Photography, like most things started out as a hobby. I feel like this was the case for most professional photographers. It certainly is the case for me. I felt like I needed something better than my phone for capturing those special moments. They just looked like any other photo you see.
So, the first thing you need to do is get a camera. It doesn’t have to be the best, most expensive, or new. Get something used with a lens and just start shooting! That’s the biggest thing, just start. The more you shoot, the better you get. The biggest problem that I faced is that I got addicted to it! The act of freezing a moment that will never happen again just really made a difference!
That is all you have to do to get into photography. Get a camera and shoot. You will be addicted. You will be overwhelmed by the amount of cameras and lenses you can get. It is not a cheap hobby. This is why photographers are so expensive to hire, because the gear they use is expensive! Start, have fun, and happy shooting!
The Holidays are Coming!
The holidays are here! Tis the season for family, giving, and spending money! For me, it is crunch time! This time of year is when families want Christmas photos for Christmas cards, companies want photos from their Christmas parties, and companies are also looking for photos for calendars and website refreshes! This is a great time to book a photographer to get these photos done and impress your family and competition! One thing I have never done are mini sessions. A mini session is a short 15-30 minute photoshoot to get a good 5-10 photos for around $75.00. Should I do this? If you would be interested let me know! Shoot me a text, email, DM me on Instagram, or fill out the form on my contact page.
What Does Running a Photography Company Take?
Like any company, it takes a lot of time for it to get going. In my case, nobody knows who I am or what I do until I show them! That’s why I’m thankful for all of the people that have trusted me to deliver when most people don’t! I’m still reaching out to people/agencies, running advertisements, investing in marketing, etc. I am always doing something to let more people know I am a photographer. It’s like being a salesman, marketer, and manager all at once!
Running a photography business, most people assume you are taking photos all the time. This is NOT the case! 90% of my time is editing or being a salesman and finding work. It’s customer service. selling, editing, and THEN being a photographer.
The best piece of advice I have ever received was if you aren’t moving forward, you’re losing. I’ve taken that to heart and I try to do things that others aren’t willing to do. Take this blog for example. I don’t know anybody else that writes a blog. I have gone door to door passing out fliers in my neighborhood. I still do these things, just a lot less than I used to! Running a company is hard, but it just depends how well you want your business to do by how much work you are willing to put in. I tend to go all the way!
Are Phone Photos Good Enough?
As a professional photographer, I have a camera with me 24/7. I always have a camera with me for whenever a photo moment arises. This doesn’t mean I don’t use my phone for quick pictures. If I want to take a quick picture of my son being silly I will! But, I will always prefer my camera that I use on photoshoots. The reason is that the photos I take with my camera has that special feeling to it that a phone just can’t do.
On social media, as a photographer, I can instantly tell when a photo is taken with a phone instead of a camera. Phone companies (I’m looking at you iPhone) tend to give pictures a fake background blur. A blurred out background is a desirable look in your photos, but a phone camera is not capable of achieving this background blur like a professional camera and lens can. So, it will fake it! I’m not saying it’s wrong, but it is very easy to point it out because in my opinion phones blur the background WAY too much. But to most people they see it, and like the fact that they can achieve this look with just their phone. It is just…good enough.
For the people that see this way, is who will not hire a professional photographer like myself. But you aren’t hiring me to take photos with my fancy camera. You hire me to make you see photos in a different way. My job is to make photos that you compare to your phone photos and clearly see the difference. I want you to feel you definitely got your money’s worth and I gave you not only beautiful photos, but an experience while taking them. So, is your phone taking good enough photos? Or do you want to make your friends, co-workers, and competition jealous with your amazing photos? Let me make that happen, it is literally what I do best!
Car Photography!
Mostly everybody knows me for my event photography since that is what I started out doing. Slowly adding families, couples, and now…car photography! I had the opportunity to shoot a local car show, the West Wing Classic. It was a great show with over 100 vehicles. I was one of the dedicated photographers for the show and it was great! Between the crowd events, dance shows, and of course the cars! That said, I have a simple pricing model for car photography if interested! I will also attend more car shows for the website and Instagram, so if you see me or my logo, say hi! I love seeing people that recognize me and my work!
My Take On AI (Again…)
When I became a photographer about 4 years ago, AI (Artificial Intelligence) was just becoming popular in news and media. I didn’t think it would effect me in any way, but as it got more and more powerful, it was apparent everybody was going to have to embrace it’s inevitable presence in multiple trades.
I have written about AI before and my opinion has definitely changed. I use AI in my work almost 100% of the time! It is one of those things you HAVE to use in order to stay relevant. If you don’t use it, you will fall behind everyone who does. It is a tool I rely on in editing and really bringing my vision of a photo to life! Do photographers use AI more than others? Of course! There are editing and culling sites that literally edit and cull whole galleries in seconds! I don’t use AI in this way because I feel like I lose the connection with the photos and the moment I had when taking them. Overall, I actually like artificial intelligence and think it is an effective tool for my day to day. Unfortunately, there are uses for AI in a malicious manner. But, in the photography world, camera companies are imbedding digital signatures in photos to permanently say who the author is.
So, I have embraced AI in my life in more ways than one, which I was reluctant to do so when I first wrote about the topic. Artificial Intelligence will just keep getting more and more powerful and wiggle its way into more facets of everybody’s lives. I will continue to use AI to my benefit of my work and it has made my life easier and more efficient. Do you use AI? Let me know on Instagram, Threads, or X!
Rocker 7 Farm Patch
Just last weekend, my family and I took photos at Rocker 7 Farm Patch in Buckeye, AZ. It was really a cool spot for photos! They have a pumpkin patch, sunflower field, and cotton field which gave a pretty good variety of photos! It wasn’t too crowded and I was able to take my time with photos since I took some self portraits of me and my family! We wanted to take Maverick to a pumpkin patch for some fall photos and Rocker 7 Farm Patch delivered! I would definitely go back for a family or portrait session and would challenge anyone to find a similar location for fall photos on the west side of the valley. Go take a look at the full gallery on my portfolio page and let me know how I did on Instagram! I’ll be posting some of my favorites there as well!
Being a Photographer on a Family Vacation
Vacations as a photographer are the best way to practice and flex the muscle of photography. Going to a new place I haven’t been before has endless possibilities. In this instance, I recently went on a vacation to New York City! I’ve never been to New York, but we went to a lot of the tourist locations. Rockefeller, the Statue of Liberty, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to name a few! Being a photographer, I usually have my camera with me, but on vacation it’s a non-negotiable. The camera will be on me 100% of the time to make sure I can capture any moment that arises! I will always have the memories frozen in time when on vacation for generations! Sure, sometimes it becomes a nuisance to always keep track of my expensive gear, but I’m so used to it, it doesn’t cause any problems. Being on vacation gives me endless opportunities and the ability to create once in a lifetime memories I can share forever! As always, check out my portfolio, say hi on Instagram, and let me know how I can help capture your moment!
JPEG vs RAW Files
Photographers often choose to shoot in RAW format instead of JPEG due to the significant advantages it offers in terms of image quality and editing flexibility. RAW files contain all the data captured by the camera's sensor without any compression or processing, preserving maximum detail, color depth, and dynamic range. This allows photographers greater control during the post-processing stage, enabling adjustments to exposure, white balance, contrast, and other settings without degrading image quality. Additionally, RAW files provide higher flexibility for recovering highlights and shadows, making them preferred by photographers who prioritize image quality and fine-tuning their final output. While shooting in RAW requires more storage space and post-processing time compared to JPEG, the unparalleled control and superior results make it a preferred choice for many photographers like myself.
Do I Advertise My Company
This is a subject I am always learning about. The best way of advertising, SEO’s, the old fashioned way, social media, and word of mouth. The list goes on and on. The best way of growing organically is always by word of mouth. But what do you do when you are just starting out? Little secret (I always be transparent with everyone), I have done free shoots. Shoots like Levi Shaw and Cal Rainwater were free. The arrangement we had was, in a nutshell, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Free photos for free tags on social media. Its a win-win for both of us. And to this day, I am getting tagged for photos they choose to post and it has been great! How do clients know how great their photos can be if nobody will pay you to shoot their photos in the first place? The free shoots give me a solid portfolio I can use to show to others.
Some of you may be asking, what is an SEO? It stands for “Search Engine Optimization”, and it is a bear of a task, but essential! The key here is to add key words to my website in order to boost my URL as high on Google as I can. This is one of the reasons I write these blogs! Anyone can search for anything I am writing about in my blogs, and my website “might” show up. I want to be everywhere my clients can be!
But have I paid for advertising? Short answer is yes. I have paid for Google Ads. It is a low risk payment that you can cap per month. When you search on Google, and you see at the top “Sponsored” by the link, they paid for you to see it. It is just another way to get in front of potential clients.
Social media is probably the hardest, but most essential way to advertise myself. Being a photographer, the best way for people to see your work is to put it on social media like Instagram, since everyone is there! I try posting as much as possible in order to reach as many people as possible!
Advertising myself is always on my mind in order to reach as many people as possible. It is a never ending cycle that I am always trying to improve. As always come say hi on social media by clicking on the link at the top of my website!
The Mighty Axe
I had the opportunity of photographing my first ever axe throwing event at a local axe throwing bar! The Mighty Axe is a axe throwing bar where you can throw axes and enjoy something from the bar. There is a rustic atmosphere, like walking into a cabin, with a digital fire place and a whole bunch of board games, and an arcade with multiple pinball machines to enjoy when not throwing axes! The Mighty Axe recently hosted a world axe throwing league (WATL) tournament. This tournament had world class axe throwers from around the country! I was able to photograph this tournament for the venue to use in their social media. and websites. It was a fun shoot! Everybody was okay with me taking photos and I wanted to make sure I got some shots of the tournament and the details of the venue. If you want to try something fun and unique, give The Mighty Axe a try! As always check out all of the shots from the day in my portfolio found above! Check out my social media and say hi!
AI in Photography
AI or “Artificial Intelligence” is one of the hottest topics going around right now. I have my opinions both good and bad about AI in photography. I’ll be honest, I have, and continue to use, AI in my editing for certain photos that are giving me a hard time. 99% of the time it is to remove something in the photo. It is easy to throw a photo in photoshop and using the ne AI capabilities, I can tell it what I want to remove and it will generally do a pretty good job! With that being said, this is the only time I use AI in my photography. Even though I am pretty “anti-AI’ in general, I can’t help but utilize it if it makes photos of paying clients better.
This will lead me to why I am not a fan in AI. One, because there is not way to regulate it (yet). You can search for any picture online or on social media, and will have no idea if it was made by AI, or if it was actually taken with a camera. I say yet because there are some camera manufacturers that are adding metadata in every photo the camera takes proving a photo was taken by a real person with an actual camera. AI is a scary thought to some photographers, as they are worried that anyone can just type a prompt and come up with a photo for anything they want, leaving them obsolete. But this is not the case for anyone photographing weddings or people because AI can not recreate these moments.
It is clear that AI is here to stay and we will need to make a moral choice to either embrace it or leave it out of their lives as long as possible. I have a love-hate relationship with it, since I believe a human’s creativity will always be superior. But I must confess, it’s made some photos better by removing distractions. Let me know what you think. Head over to my Instagram and tell me your thoughts on AI!
Phone Photography Taking Photographers’ Jobs
Phone photography has cause some photographers to worry about their job security. With smartphones starting to have these pretty impressive cameras and computational editing, they are leading to photographers to worry about there own photography business. Smartphones have come a long way when in the photography realm with the phones adding fake background blur to make it more appealing. I’ll be the first to admit, if you don’t have a camera and want to get into photography, use your phone! You will learn the basics of composition and what makes a good photograph!
My biggest argument for why phone photography won’t replace professional cameras and photographers is this. What would you do if you paid someone to come photograph your engagement photos, family photos, or even your wedding, and they show up with their iPhone? You would be pretty upset right? With this reason alone, there is a place for us photographers with dedicated photography gear. With that being said, smartphones are essential to what I do. I use my phone for a lot of social media posts, quick videos, and pictures that I see when I don’t have my camera on hand. Social media is where smartphones shine. I try to have most photos and posts I have on my social media is a finished, edited, photo from my professional camera to represent my best work. But, its easy to take a photo on my phone and get it out quickly.
To all my photographers here, just know we are safe from smartphones taking over the industry, and it is okay to utilize phones as another tool in our belt. As always check out my social media profiles, come say hi, and if you have anything to add, let me know!
How I Save and Store Your Photos
Backing up and saving your photos is one of the most important jobs I have as a photographer. I know unfortunate things happen like fires, break ins, and other disasters. Photos even get lost! When one of these things happen, phones, laptops, and electronics are the most common thing to be ruined or stolen. I know most of the photos I take are on these devices. This is why I make sure I save the galleries of all my shoots with my clients in multiple places and ways. This is called the 3-2-1 method.
This method is common with other photographers and its because it makes sure there are multiple copies of the galleries are in multiple places. I keep a total of three copies of every gallery. These three copies are in two different types of storage. I keep a SSD safe with the photos, and I keep a cloud based backup as well. And because even these can fail, I have another SSD at an off-site location, away from my house. This is because the same disasters I explained above can happen to me too!
This is my process I use with all of my galleries. If you pay me your hard earned money for photos. I make sure to always have the photos safe and if they somehow lose their photos, I will always send them again, no questions asked! As always be sure to share the blog, follow me on social media and say hi!
The Stillery (Happy Valley) Photoshoots
In the past couple weeks I had the opportunity to photograph two local country artists here in Arizona. Both were at a country bar, The Stillery. I had the pleasure of photographing Levi Shaw. Levi is a great country singer that does great covers of current country songs and artists. He has some original songs and currently working on more original music. The other artist was Calvin Rainwater. Another amazing singer that does covers of current country songs, as well as country classics. He has a full album of original music, and has a creative music vided. If you are a country music fan, as I am, you will not be disappointed!
Both times I was at The Stillery, management and both artists gave me full reign of what to photograph. As you know this is my favorite way and scenario of shooting! The best part of this venue is the fact they have a dedicated dance floor and stage with rear, outdoor seating behind the stage. This definitely allowed me to be creative with my shots. As always, I had two cameras with two different lenses that way I would be able to quickly switch and react to the situation. I definitely utilized the fact that I was able to get behind the stage and the artist. You can go see the portfolio to see what shots I was able to get with this perspective I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else.
Calvin and Levi were super nice guys that brought a similar aesthetic. I knew that a rustic and rough looking photo would definitely compliment the artist and the venue. The challenge was lighting. The venue has RGB lighting that rotates through different colored light. This was a challenge because nobody wants a photo of themselves if they are all blue or red. I was able to time the lighting to get a more natural color and then fix the colors in the edit. This caused the editing to be a little longer than usual, but overall was able to overcome and get really good shots. I would definitely enjoy shooting at The Stillery again, and of course would jump at the opportunity to photograph Calvin and Levi again. Check out the portfolio page to see their photos, and don’t forget to look me up on Instagram. I am more active on social media for you all to see what I am shooting next!
What Will I Bring to a Photoshoot
I have always been known as the person that is prepared for everything. I pride myself on being prepared for the unexpected. I am trying to be more intentional with what I bring to a photoshoot, instead of bringing literally every piece of equipment I own. I used to bring a tripod everywhere I go, just in case. I now usually leave my tripod at home unless I know I will need it. Depending on what the photoshoot is, depends on what I will bring. Obviously I will always bring two cameras and a couple lenses in case a camera dies, I have a backup. I always have extra batteries and memory cards. This is the usual equipment I bring. The optional items are my tripod, flash, LED lighting, and laptop. Unless I know I will need these things, they will stay home.
When I brought everything I owned, I was always overwhelmed with what lens to us, do I need my flash, etc. Now that I am bringing only what I need, I am more comfortable and more focused on getting the shots. I am forcing myself to be thinking of the angles, looking for the lighting, and finding “the perfect shot”. The same reason why I use prime lenses instead of zooms, see that post below. My camera bag now stays at home and has compiled down into a small sling bag. This change has its pros and cons, but I am so much more intentional with my gear that comes with me and it makes the photoshoot go much smoother than ever!
Working From Home With a Child
As you can see in my portfolio, I love photographing my son and seeing him grow up through the camera! My wife is a teacher, and she absolutely loves her job! This is partly why I take a lot of pictures of Maverick, I love showing Emily the photos I took that day. With her at work, it requires either daycare or staying home during the day to take care of Maverick. Working from home while taking care of a baby can be both rewarding and challenging. The constant juggling act between my professional life and parental duties requires a delicate balance, but I wouldn’t change it for the world! While it is very rewarding, seeing my son grow up and reach his milestones, there are inevitable interruptions and distractions throughout the day. Schedules always need to be adjusted, tasks usually take longer to complete, but deadlines have to be met. There are days where Maverick is inconsolable, and I can’t get get him to calm down and make him happy. These days are rough! Thankfully most days are the opposite, where he is always happy and smiling, crawling around and exploring his environment! I love being a photographer and going out on shoots and capturing memories for couples and families, I love being a dad even more! It is without a doubt the most rewarding job I have ever had. While it undoubtedly presents its unique set of challenges, working from home with a baby brings a sense of fulfillment and a profound lesson in time management and adaptability. But I wouldn’t change it for the world!
Black Flag Images is an LLC now!
Any business may choose to become an LLC for several reasons. Firstly, forming an LLC provides protection for the owner’s personal assets, which is important if something were to happen. This means that if there are any business problems like a lawsuit or debt, the individual's personal finances and assets are safe. This offers peace of mind and security.
So what does this mean for me as a photographer? Being an LLC gives the my business a professional and trustworthy image. This helps attract clients and build strong relationships. This also helps if something happens to one of my clients on a shoot and they want to sue. This will protect me and my financial situation personally. It doesn’t cost much to file for an LLC, it makes sure I am protected, and it makes me, as a professional, look like a professional. I feel like it also offers clients with a peace of mind with what they are getting when the book with me. They are dealing with someone who is professional and makes sure they are getting the value for what they are paying for. At the end of the day, it is all about the client and getting my LLC, I want to instill trust in my clients to make sure they are comfortable and taken care of.
Photoshoot for Cactus Keys Dueling Piano Show!
I just finished editing a photoshoot of the Cactus Keys Dueling Piano Show. I’ve seen these guys play multiple times before and I offered to take photos for their social media and website. This was the first time photographing dueling pianos and IT. WAS. AWESOME! Before the event, I asked what kind of pictures they were looking for. They didn’t want many pictures of them playing, but of the crowd and audience. They just set me free to get what I could! There were challenges though.
Throughout the show, it was dark. Dark where some of the people were sitting, but bright lights on the guys while playing. One of the most difficult conditions for photography. Dark scenes, but had to freeze the motion of the audience and people dancing and moving around. I loved the challenge of making sure the pictures were perfect. Nonetheless, it was fun!
The Cactus Keys Dueling Piano Show always gets the crowd involved in their show. This is what made it easy to get photos of the crowd. They call people up to them for numerous reasons. They even had a whole parade of people around the restaurant! They do so good at getting people on their feet and have a good time! I can’t wait to see them again! In the mean time, head over to my portfolio, or Instagram, to see the photos. How did I do on capturing the crowd? Let me know! Again, thank you to Joe and Jef on letting me photograph their show!
Why Are Photographers So Expensive?
As a photographer, I can understand why our services may appear expensive to some. There are several factors that contribute to the perceived high cost. Firstly, the equipment we use is top-of-the-line and constantly evolving. High-quality cameras, lenses, flashes, and editing software are essential tools that allow us to capture stunning images. Alongside the expenses of equipment, there are other hidden costs such as maintenance and repairs. Additionally, photographers invest a significant amount of time and effort in honing their skills and staying up-to-date with the latest techniques and trends. We spend hours planning, visiting potential photoshoot locations, setting up equipment, capturing shots, and editing in post-production (which takes the most time). The final price reflects not only the time spent during the actual shoot but also the experience, knowledge, and behind the scenes resources that goes into producing exceptional photographs. Lastly, running a photography business entails overhead costs such as marketing, website maintenance, equipment maintenance, and professional fees. All of these factors combined contribute to the overall pricing structure, allowing photographers to deliver high-quality and memorable images to their clients. While the cost can be significant, the value of capturing moments and preserving memories for a lifetime is truly priceless. Thank you for reading these little passages I write. Head to social media and say hi! Or shoot a text and say hey! Thank you!
What Lenses I Use and Why
Us photographers have many choices of what lens or lenses we use. This is because the lens greatly impact the outcome of photoshoots. When it comes to capturing stunning images, many photographers, such as myself, opt for prime lenses. These lenses have a fixed focal length, meaning they lack zooming capabilities. While this might seem limiting at first, but prime lenses have many advantages that make them essential to making your photos.
Because I prefer lenses that don’t zoom, I will most likely show up with two cameras with different lenses on them! This way, I am able to quickly choose which lens to use on the fly! Firstly, prime lenses often have larger maximum apertures, allowing for exceptional depth of field and low-light capabilities. This helps if a photoshoot goes later than expected! This enables photographers to beautifully isolate you and the background. This is what allows for that gorgeously blurry background. Additionally, prime lenses are known for their exceptional image quality, sharpness, and color. Since these lenses do not zoom, they are generally lighter, smaller, and more portable. They also force me to move around and be more creative with my compositions, resulting in unique and engaging images that set them apart from other photographers’ photos. I know this was a more technical post, but let me know what you want to know about me next on social media!
How I Find Photoshoot Locations
As a photographer, finding the perfect photoshoot locations is a crucial part of my business. It involves a combination of research, scouting, and a keen eye for detail. I like to search the internet and social media platforms to match the desired backdrop you are looking for. Once I have a couple spots in mind, I scout them in person to make sure the location is easily accessible (mainly for the mom’s to be for my maternity sessions), lighting conditions, and the overall look of the location. Doing this is an extra step, but it makes sure I have the best possible locations for all of you! Seeing these spots in person allows me to take in factors of composition. lighting, the background, and how crowded the spot will be because nobody likes random strangers in their photos! Ultimately, finding the perfect locations is a balance of research, scouting, and just my imagination of how the photos will look. This is to provide you with the best experience possible with photos that you are proud to share and display! Remember to say hi on social media and let me know what you think and if you have any questions!
What to Expect When you Book a Shoot With Me
When you schedule an engagement photography session with me, you can expect a personalized and fulfilling experience that captures the essence of your story. I work closely with you to understand your vision and desired aesthetic, ensuring that every detail is carefully considered. From choosing the perfect location to suggesting outfits and props that complement your style, I will guide you through the entire process. During the session, I try to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, allowing your genuine emotions to shine through. I also always like to have your favorite music going. I photograph both posed and candid moments. Whether you prefer a natural outdoor setting or an urban backdrop, I will ensure you that you will love your experience and more importantly your images that you will cherish for a lifetime. Expect a professional and enjoyable experience, resulting in breathtaking photographs that tell your story! As always, say hi on social media and let me know what you think and if you have any questions!
How I Shoot and Edit Your Sessions and Why
If you have browsed my gallery, I am sure you will notice I am a pretty true to life photographer that prefers a nice, natural light feel to my photos. When shooting, I am always conscious about my settings and making sure I am paying attention to the little things. I try to get everything right in camera as I’m shooting. Not only does it make it easier to edit, but it also lets me get your images to you faster. I won’t have to edit things out or make drastic changes to your photos.
With that being said, I don’t ever change people’s skin, clothing color, or hair. There are photographers that do make sure the skin is perfect, or edit out certain facial features or blemishes. I do to an extent, but nothing like some! These photographers are for some people. I prefer to show how my clients look!
Okay, but why the natural, light feel to the photos? I went through (like every photographer I think) a dramatic and dare I say “moody” editing process. I don’t know if I just matured as a photographer or just started preferring a lighter look. I will always have an idea of what the pictures will look like while shooting. With that in mind, I am always shooting a delicate circumstance, whether I am shooting my son Maverick, a maternity session, an engagement session, etc. I feel like these photos have to have a light, airy, happy feel to them and that’s how I want to portray them! If I am shooting something different like an event, the photos will look very natural and how it looked when I was shooting.
I know this was a long one! Thank you for reading and learning more about my process. I hope you like it! As always say hi on Instagram, Threads, and X!
Why Black Flag Images
When you hear the name Black Flag Images, I am sure you think of pirates. This is why I chose the name! I have always been fascinated with pirates throughout my life. I know it is a strange thing to be intrigued in, some people think it’s weird, but hey, it’s me! Black Flag Images is easier for people to remember. I could go with my name like any other photographer in the area, but where is the fun in that? Donnie Cole Photography doesn’t do it for me. If I am to start my own business, it’s going to be named what I want it to be. It could come off as unprofessional, and you might think the same way! I didn’t care though! I wanted to be different even if it meant a tougher, longer road. The fact that you’re even spending the time to read this tells me that I made the right choice. Let me know what you think! Follow me on Instagram, Twitter (X now I guess), and Threads! See you next week!
Why I Chose Photography
When I learned I wanted to pick up the camera and start photography was actually during my own engagement session with my wife, getting our photos taken for our save the dates and invitations for our wedding. Being posed and smiling until our faces hurt while the photographer was going through the motions of their job as if they’ve done this a thousand times. It wasn’t the act of taking photos or the posing, what I was impressed with was how comfortable we were with this person we barely even know! I decided this is what I wanted to do! I wanted to give people the same level of comfort and satisifaction that we felt and get beautiful images while doing it. Little did I know the amount of work it takes to create the images. This started a long and strenuous journey of learning this craft.