I recently had the privilege of photographing the Edward Jones office team in Forest City, NC. We created an outdoor team photo and indoor headshots, giving them a consistent and polished look for their website, marketing, and client communications.

If you’re wondering whether it’s worth investing in professional photos for your team, here are a few reasons why it matters:

Why Team Photos and Headshots Are Important

• First impressions count – Your website and marketing materials are often a potential client’s first interaction with your brand. Professional photos make you look approachable, credible, and trustworthy.
• Consistency builds brand strength – Matching headshots and coordinated team images give your brand a cohesive, professional presence.
• People connect with people – Clients want to know who they’re working with, and strong headshots and team photos help put a face to the name.
• Recruitment and retention – High-quality team photos communicate professionalism, making your business more appealing to clients and potential employees.
• Longevity and flexibility – Good photos can be used across multiple platforms: websites, LinkedIn profiles, press releases, email signatures, and internal communications.

How We Approached the Edward Jones Session

For this session, we started outdoors to capture the team together in natural light, providing a warm and welcoming group portrait. Then we moved inside for headshots. Edward Jones has brand standards call for a solid grey background, so we matched that for a clean and professional look. Each team member now has a consistent headshot that aligns perfectly with the Edward Jones brand.

How to Prepare Your Office for a Photo Session

When I come to photograph your team, a little preparation goes a long way. Here are some tips (pulled from my Headshot Guide) to make the process smooth and stress-free:

1. Coordinate wardrobes – Choose solid colors or simple patterns. Avoid busy prints or logos (unless it’s your company logo).
2. Grooming matters – Encourage your team to have hair and makeup done so that they look like themselves on their best day. Simple touches like a haircut or beard trim make a big difference.
3. Be mindful of accessories – Jewelry, scarves, and ties should complement rather than distract.
4. Stay hydrated and rested – A good night’s sleep shows in your face.
5. Plan timing – Schedule enough time so no one feels rushed. This ensures relaxed, natural expressions.
6. Think about location – For team photos, we can shoot inside or outside depending on the look you want. Indoors gives consistency; outdoors can feel more casual and approachable.
7. Communicate with your team – Let everyone know what to wear, when to arrive, and what to expect.

Professional team photos and headshots are more than just pictures—they invest in how your business is perceived. Whether you’re updating your website, refreshing LinkedIn profiles, or simply wanting your team to look their best, I’d love to help craft images that represent your brand well.

Ready to update your team’s look? Let’s talk about scheduling your next session.

This is my favorite photograph by my mentor, Don Rutledge. I love it because the family’s eyes are not on Don’s camera, but on the missionary— their friend—standing just behind him. That simple detail speaks volumes about trust, relationship, and the deeper story behind the lens.

My friend and fellow photojournalist Martin Smith-Rodden recently asked, “What are your favorite historically significant photographs—and why?” This question sent me down a rabbit hole of reflection, not just about which images have shaped history but also about the deeper question: why we make these images in the first place.

Martin’s focus is the “why” as much as the “what” or “when,” and that resonates deeply with me. If we don’t understand the purpose behind our photographs, we’re just making pretty pictures without impact.

Seeing War for the First Time

In Shooting War: Photography and the American Experience of Combat, Susan Moeller reminds us how much the public’s view of war was controlled for decades:

“The importance of editorial decisions in the makeup and layout of a photo-essay cannot be overstated.”

For much of U.S. history, the images the public saw from war were carefully curated, often showing heroism and victory, rarely the cost. It wasn’t until the 1960s, during Vietnam, that Americans were confronted with images of their soldiers injured or dying. That visual truth changed public perception in ways words alone never could.

The Power to Shape Memory

Vicki Goldberg, in The Power of Photography, captures this duality perfectly:

“Photographs change nothing—but spread their influence everywhere.”

Photographs don’t topple governments by themselves. But they can crystallize a moment, amplify injustice, and become part of a collective memory that slowly pushes culture to shift.

Influencers Before Social Media

Before Instagram and TikTok, photographers could still move audiences—if they had the right platform. My mentor, Don Rutledge, was one of them. He spoke at the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar four times, helped secure other world-class speakers, and influenced countless photographers. His 1970s photo story of a poor Mississippi farmer earned praise and sparked conversation in an era before “viral” was even a word.

When Access Is the Story

Some photographs are even more profound when you understand what it took to get them. Take William Allard’s National Geographic cover of an Amish boy holding a guinea pig. The photo is beautiful, but the real power comes when you realize the trust it took to be welcomed into a community that shuns typical cameras.

The Personal Project Effect

Some of the most powerful images come from personal projects when a photographer is deeply invested in the story. Eugene Richards’s work is almost entirely in this vein. W. Eugene Smith’s haunting image of the Minamata mother bathing her mercury-poisoned daughter remains one of the most affecting photographs ever made.

Accidents and Aftermath

Sometimes a photograph changes history almost by accident. Eddie Adams’s famous execution photo of a Viet Cong prisoner wasn’t staged—it was simply the right (or terrible) moment, captured without knowing it would become iconic.

And sometimes the original intent flips. Many lynching photographs in America were taken by white onlookers, printed as celebratory postcards. Today, those same images stand as damning historical evidence of racial terror.

The Real Question for Young Photojournalists

You can find countless examples of images that have impacted culture. But the deeper question for any young photojournalist is: Why are you doing this?

For me, the answer has never been to glorify the powerful. The stories I feel compelled to tell are of the everyday person struggling to be seen, often because those with wealth and influence refuse to pay honest wages to those whose labor sustains them.

Suppose you know your “why,” your photographs will carry more than just pixels. They’ll have purpose. And that’s what makes an image worth remembering.

Sometimes life throws you into a rut. The kind where your mind starts circling the same thoughts repeatedly, and you feel stuck. This year’s latest season of Professor T unexpectedly hit me. The brilliant but often socially awkward criminology professor plays the drums in the show, not to become a rock star, but because his therapist suggested it as a form of therapy. It’s not about the notes; it’s about the rhythm, the release, and the mental reset.

That storyline resonated with me. Last July, when my uncle Knolan Benfield passed away, I found myself in a similar place of needing a healthy outlet. Uncle Knolan had been a big part of my life, and when he died, I inherited his trumpet. Picking it up again brought back memories of when I used to play regularly. I also bought a flugelhorn because of the warm, mellow tone it calls to me.

Now, I keep the horn within arm’s reach. If I’ve been working on the computer for hours, I’ll take a short break and play. Just a few minutes of music can reset my mind. Making sound—focusing on breathing, embouchure, and melody—pulls me out of work mode and grounds me in something tangible and joyful.

But music wasn’t my only therapy. Since losing my uncle, I’ve also gotten serious about the gym. In 2025 alone, I’ve done 117 thirty-minute workouts so far. It’s not about chasing a number on the scale but building resilience. Exercise and music together have helped me stay optimistic, so that no matter what comes, I’m looking for ways to move forward rather than letting stress take over.

Tips for Staying Positive as a Creative (Even When Life Gets Stressful)

Whether you’re a musician, photographer, writer, or artist, staying emotionally steady is critical. Here are a few practices that have worked for me:

1. Find a creative outlet just for you.
   Don’t worry about making it perfect or sharing it online. Play an instrument, paint, dance—whatever pulls you into a different mental space.
2. Move your body daily.
   Exercise doesn’t have to be extreme. Even a 30-minute walk or light workout can reduce stress and boost mood.
3. Break up your workday.
   Step away from screens and do something physical or creative to reset your brain before returning to the grind.
4. Practice gratitude daily.
   Even on tough days, note at least one thing you’re thankful for. It helps shift your mindset toward the positive.
5. Surround yourself with encouraging voices.
   Spend time with people who help you see solutions, not just problems.
6. Accept that stress will come, but it doesn’t have to control you.
   Have a “go-to” activity (music, exercise, journaling) that helps you process and release tension.
7. Invest in your passions, even when life is busy.
   If something brings you joy, make room for it. It’s not indulgence—it’s maintenance for your mental health.

The trumpet, flugelhorn, and a good gym session have become tools, not just hobbies. They remind me that I can choose rhythm, movement, and optimism even when life is stressful.

Caption: Dave LaBelle, renowned photojournalist and storyteller, speaks to students at the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia, alongside Mark Johnson.

I’ve known a lot of photographers who chased assignments that paid the most, and I’ve known others who chased stories that mattered most. Dave LaBelle is one of those rare people who reminds me that wealth isn’t measured in currency — it’s measured in the lives you touch.

Dave LaBelle shared today on our Zoom meeting for The Story Thread that he decided money would not be his main goal in life. Instead, he committed to “seek first the kingdom of God” — putting faith and purpose before pursuing income. His tools were simple: a camera, a pen, and believing that his gifts were meant to serve others.

Listen to Dave here:

Dave’s words challenge one of our culture’s loudest messages: “Make as much money as possible — then you’ll be secure.” Instead, he shows the freedom and joy that come when you reverse that — focus on purpose and trust provision to follow.

This choice meant turning down specific opportunities, running a blog without ads, and measuring relationship success rather than revenue. And yet, he calls himself “one of the most successful people” he’s ever met. Why? Because he has always had enough. Enough to eat. Enough to live. Enough to keep creating.

When we choose our calling over the chase for cash, we often discover something surprising — provision shows up. The right connections appear. The bills get paid. And the work we produce matters.

Practical Takeaway:

1. Define your priority. Money will take that spot by default if you don’t know what comes first.
2. Use your gifts to serve. Your talents are meant for more than your gain.
3. Trust provision. Security often comes when we stop obsessing over it.
4. Measure wealth differently. Relationships, impact, and legacy often outlast financial success.

Closing:
Dave reminded me — and I hope this reminds you — that the real reward of pursuing your calling is a life that feels full, not just a wallet that looks full. And if you can grasp this truth early, you’ll be rich in the most critical ways.

This 30-second video for Slopes BBQ may have been designed to play during high school games on the jumbotrons around Roswell, Georgia, but it’s more than just a quick commercial.

Angel, the owner of Slopes BBQ, reached out and asked if I could create a video for those in-game sponsor moments. Last year, he used the restaurant’s logo while they thanked the local businesses. But this year, he noticed other sponsors running full videos and wanted to stand out.

At first, the idea was simple: a quick flyover with a drone showing the restaurant’s location.

But when we sat down to talk, I asked him, “What else could we show? What do people love about Slopes?” That question opened the door to a bigger story.

I wrote the script, coordinated the voiceover, selected music that matched the tone, and shot both aerial and interior footage. I filmed the drone shots first to establish where the restaurant is in Roswell, then came back a couple more times to capture the kitchen in action and the people who fill the place with life.

This video isn’t just about barbecue. It’s about a place that holds a history and a community. It’s where friends meet, families gather, and traditions are passed across the table.

Here’s the final result. You might see it pop up at a Roswell football game soon—but I’m excited to share it with you here first:

Thanks again to Angel and the Slopes team for trusting me to tell their story.

If your business is ready to go beyond the logo and tell a story that connects—especially in a world of distractions—I’d love to help.