The IN-side... NOT Photography!

Flashback... Comics and cartoons...

Cartoons were one of my earliest inspirations to pursue a creative career. And I'm sure they gave many creative children inspiration. Pursuing illustration and graphic publishing led me into digital graphics, where I worked as a communications designer nearly ten years - for the prison industry. I got to design marketing materials and newsletters, nation wide recruiting campaigns, direct photo shoots and produce videos for training and promotion. I love to create robust marketing content libraries!

Here is a little piece of something that never saw the light of day. I illustrated and colored these on my own time, working with some talented and creative writers as well, hoping to lighten the mood in the prison industry! We proposed them for a newsletter, but they didn't make the cut.

  

Enjoy!

After the event, 2017, Nashville

Event Photography is about the entertainment value as much as the pictures later.
The photographer's job is to make people feel good and have fun... and to make that memory last beyond the event with memories.

Monte James' New Album Cover...

About a year ago, I took spent some time shooting Monte James as he performed his live country music show in Nashville. Well, he has been working with some talented song writers locally, and a great producer. The title track from the album was featured on the radio recently, so keep your eyes and ears open for more!

We got to work together a little bit since then, and he asked me to photograph some portraits for his new album at a bar in Nashville! Here are a couple of the portraits I shot for the CD or album jacket!

Working as a photographer is fun when you are shooting an artist who has some idea what they want, but they trust you to capture the best portrait. Thanks again, Monte!

Looking forward to the new Album! ( You can find more info at reverbnation.com/montejames .)

Monte James - one of Nashville's great showmen!

Country Music singer, songwriter, band leader... Monte James!  I enjoyed watching him perform and play with the crowd this evening and look forward to his new album coming soon!

Live at Tequila Cowboy, Broadway in Nashville.

To learn more about Monte James and hear his music, you can find him online at Reverb Nation...

Great times at the Nashville Beer Fest!

I had the privilege to photograph the fun people and events at the

Nashville Beer Fest this year! What good times we had. I really appreciate how people
are willing to chat about their visit to Nashville and pose for great shots!
And thanks to Avista Media for inviting me to shoot with the team!

(more information and image rights at avistamedia) 

9-month-old family portraits at Arrington Vineyards

Enjoyed the company of this happy little guy last weekend, with his family at Arrington Vineyards, just south of Nolensville, TN! Scheduling family portraits sessions for the fall in Nolensville, TN - send me an e-mail or contact me on FB.

facebook.com.danielcrandallphotographer.

See you soon! -Daniel

Brazilian lady with Black and Brown eyes! Amazing!

This great portrait of Patricia was shot in a simple moment between poses, and between downpours of rain and hair and makeup fixes! I'm so glad I caught this shot. It highlights an amazing and captivating physical trait I had never seen before ----

She has one black and one brown eye! 

Let me know when you're ready for your portrait in Nolensville, Franklin, Nashville, Brentwood, Murfreesboro,... You get the picture!

Ring shot!

I usually photograph people, but have been working on developing skills for macro photography and product shots lately. So I was excited for a creative opportunity to use both in a short deadline photo shoot this morning. 

All I had was my camera at the office, and my trusty 50mm. I pulled together some white surround materials, to bounce the light around, and found a piece of reflective silvery paper in the closet. With little time to edit, the result was this a beautiful product shot of a gorgeous ring a friend of mine was selling. 

It's fun to take an immediate challenge and come up with a creative and beautiful solution! That's how I like to approach all of my shoots - with an open mind for what presents itself creatively looking for what resources are available!

I'll use these skills on the next event I shoot for sure. 

Let's shoot!

Out for a walk one day I realized how beautiful the simple brick apartment building looked across the calm water. I have gotten paid to shoot real estate, special events and products, but this is really one of my favorites just as it is, or was.

Events and marketing materials can always use a scenery shot to help tell the complete story, and I enjoy going back over a period of days to find the right lighting and angle for pics. Contact me for your real-estate or business photos!

Park shoot

Patricia invited me to shoot her portrait near the athletic park in Nolensville, between spots of chilling rain this spring. The shed doors turned into the perfect spot for this punk look. Thanks, Patricia, for bringing so many wardrobe options and being prepared for the weather!
I'd like to shoot some more portrait sessions in Nolensville this summer. There are endless creative locations in this small town. Contact me for a creative portrait, or new professional head shot!

Francis Crandall - 99 years old

update:
Rev. Francis Gilbert Crandall went to be with Jesus at the young age of only 101 and a half... (I told him we count halves after 100). His (auto)biography has been dictated and is being re-written for publication - planned for release in 2019. Contact me if you'd like to be notified when it publishes!

original post:
Francis Crandall is going to be 100 years old soon! I got a chance to sit with him and take his portrait, listen to his stories and record some of them. His biography is this old man's 100-year birthday wish?
Do you know someone over 75 who you would like to remember with a portrait, or personal video? Contact me today and I'll work with them to capture their story, and their image, for generations to come.

Corporate Images

One of the joys of being a corporate photographer is the different kinds of people you meet at  events, seminars, on the job and at company parties. When the camera comes around the smiles come out and the laughter starts, or people run and hide. There are such diverse personalities in every business, but everyone is a beautiful person to the camera. I love the candid opportunities to document real life, real work, and real people!

Pretty in Springtime!

This pretty portrait is a reminder: spring IS coming! Easter portraits are around the corner. Ready for family pictures? March 14-15, Saturday-Sunday in Nolensville Park - Great chance to get your Easter portraits or make it a creative date!

Valentine's Day Quick Portraits

I spent a few hours down at the Nolensville Feed Mill today, taking pictures of customers on Velentine's Day. There was live music during lunch, and these beautiful people let me take their pictures.

Thank you!

First Birthday!

I met the most welcoming Indian family the other day for a birthday party in The Gulch, Nashville. Their beautiful little girl is now one year old. Happy birthday little one!

Birthdays are a lot of fun to photograph because the attention is all on one person, but everyone there usually cares about them so there are plenty of tender-hearted moments. Grandparents play with children and, and kids get messy with cake, there are decorations and a theme and candles. It all adds up to a lot of fun for everyone, and that's the best time to take pictures!

Chocolate-Strawberry Birthday Candles

This little lady had a strawberry cake...
It was not just strawberry flavored, but a giant strawberry dipped in chocolate for her birthday!
Happy Birthday, K!

Family and friends

It was such a joy to photograph these friends in early fall at the Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville. We made a picnic out of it and had a great time... But my favorites are the tender, peaceful moments...

Getting boys to want a picture taken is somewhat like asking them not to be boys! But get them talking about something they love and they might just be willing to relax just long enough.

Nashville service with a smile

In late December I got to shoot a private Christmas party at the Country Music Hall of Fame, in downtown Nashville. It was a beautiful night. The catering was top notch, and the room was gorgeous with hand made rustic tables of varying shapes and sizes.
Thank you, Irma, for letting me take your picture! Did I mention that the service was great?!

After the event I took a detour down Broadway headed back to my car and photographed some street performers who really drew a crowd...  but I'll save that for a later post.

High school portraits... for MEN

Young men, and boys, in High school can feel a bit awkward getting their picture taken. Pictures feel like a beauty thing... for the girls! Even for the guys who love their own looks (and we all know a few of those). But every one has some interest or hobby. It might be playing video games or drawing, playing sports or collecting baseball cards. I love hearing about what you do for fun! And if it's hangin' out at the Sonic, well, that can make a great memory, and a great portrait.

Jon and his family wanted a great high school portrait before he left home. He was somewhat reluctant, but once we spent a few minutes together learning what he was interested in, we had a great time. We scheduled the gym, he got to show off some of his athletic skills, and we took a few more formal style pictures too.

Contact me today and let's do something great with your portraits!

Castle Gwynn!

I drive past the beautiful Castle Gwynn every few days, but it is another location that I have yet to shoot, until the other morning when I drove near on my motorcycle and managed to get this pretty pic! The annual Renaissance fair on the grounds of the castle draws people from all around the country. Each year I like to do a themed photo shoot in the area for *cosplay artists, LARPers and renaissance styled photos to coincide with the fair weekends. Let me know if you want to be involved in a shoot in May. For first person or group to book portraits in Renaissance period or **punked costume, NO CHARGE for the shoot and social media pics!

My authentic location is rocky and wooded, only a couple miles from the castle and festival - Send me a message me to shoot!

* That's "Costume-play" and "Live Action Role Players" in case you were wondering!
** "Punked" refers to modernization of period clothing - adapting old techniques with modern style.