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Author: Stanley Leary

Most companies know the value of a good story, but do not know how to tell their own story. Leary has a process to find and tell stories that communicate how they change lives, so that their companies grow again. Some of his clients include Chick-fil-A, Newell-Rubbermaid, Coke, Georgia Tech, and The Carter Center. Leary’s work has taken him across the United States and beyond — to Chile, Peru, Burkina Faso, Canada, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Portugal and Romania. The experiences of this award-winning communications allow him to engage audiences with storytelling that builds organization’s brand. His U.S. clients find that ability translates into making their messages cross-culturally relevant with diverse American audiences and within the mainstream media. Prior to forming his own company, Leary worked on staff for The Hickory (N.C.) Daily Record and theCOMMISSION magazine in Richmond, VA. For nine years he was on staff with PR team at Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga. Leary is also a teacher. He enjoys sharing his expertise with others. He has taught storytelling and brand building at Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.; The University of the Nations, Kona, Hawaii; Reinhardt College, Waleska, Ga.; Berry College, Rome, Ga.; Portfolio Center, Atlanta, Ga.; and Dallas (Texas) Baptist University. He also has been a guest lecturer at World Journalism Institute, Washington, D.C.; Southwestern Photojournalist Conference, Fort Worth, Texas; Art Institute of Atlanta, Ga.; American Society of Media Photographers. Atlanta (Ga.) Chapter; and the Southeastern Photographic Society, Atlanta Ga. Clients often contract him to teach their staffs to become more visually effective in building their brand. Leary lives in Roswell, Ga., holds degrees in social work and communications, and is married to Dorie Griggs. They have three children.
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House Cleaning Tips for Photographers

House Cleaning Tips for Photographers

by Stanley LearyFebruary 11, 2026March 30, 2026

Because creativity thrives in clean systems. Most photographers love the creative side of the craft. Very few love maintenance. But the truth is this: your camera, your computer, and your workflow are tools. And tools…

Remembering in the Dark: Why I Put the Zooms Away at the Officer Jeremy Labonte Memorial Vigil

Remembering in the Dark: Why I Put the Zooms Away at the Officer Jeremy Labonte Memorial Vigil

by Stanley LearyFebruary 9, 2026March 30, 2026

[NIKON Z 9, 85mm f/1.8G, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 18000, 1/250, ƒ/1.8, (35mm = 85)] Remembering in the Dark: Why I Put the Zooms Away at the Officer Jeremy Labonte Memorial Vigil One year…

The Most Important Work You’ll Ever Do (And Why Your Creativity Depends on It)

The Most Important Work You’ll Ever Do (And Why Your Creativity Depends on It)

by Stanley LearyFebruary 6, 2026March 30, 2026

I’m becoming more convinced that the most important work we do in life isn’t our job, our craft, or even our calling. It’s the work we do on ourselves. Not in a self-help, navel-gazing kind…

My Brain Won’t Let Go… And That’s Actually a Superpower

My Brain Won’t Let Go… And That’s Actually a Superpower

by Stanley LearyFebruary 3, 2026March 30, 2026

Ever apologize for something and feel done with it—only to have your brain hit repeat? Yeah… me too. Sometimes, even when I know I’ve done everything I can, my mind keeps replaying the conversation like…

A Simple Event Hack I Wish I’d Done Years Ago: Custom Reserved Chair Signs

A Simple Event Hack I Wish I’d Done Years Ago: Custom Reserved Chair Signs

by Stanley LearyJanuary 31, 2026March 30, 2026

After shooting events for most of my life, I’ve learned something that may sound counterintuitive: The less you move, the better your work—and the better the experience for everyone else in the room. Don’t get…

A Visit with John Payne and His Nikon Legacy

A Visit with John Payne and His Nikon Legacy

by Stanley LearyJanuary 22, 2026March 30, 2026

Not long ago, I had the chance to swing by and catch up with an old family friend and fellow photographer: John Payne. John and I share something pretty special — he grew up in…

Maria & Chris | A Joy-Filled Wedding

Maria & Chris | A Joy-Filled Wedding

by Stanley LearyJanuary 19, 2026March 30, 2026

Some weddings are meaningful because of the details.Some because of the emotion.And some because of the history that led to the day. Maria & Chris’ wedding at Primrose Cottage in Roswell, Georgia was all three.…

When the Phone Stops Ringing: A Hard Season Many Storytellers Face

When the Phone Stops Ringing: A Hard Season Many Storytellers Face

by Stanley LearyJanuary 18, 2026March 30, 2026

There’s a moment many photographers, videographers, and storytellers eventually experience—but almost no one talks about it publicly. A major client goes quiet.Another one disappears entirely.Calls aren’t returned. Emails go unanswered.Work you assumed would continue… just…

Why Being a Great Journalist Doesn’t Automatically Make You a Great Organizational Storyteller

Why Being a Great Journalist Doesn’t Automatically Make You a Great Organizational Storyteller

by Stanley LearyJanuary 16, 2026March 30, 2026

Back in 2008, when Greg Thompson—then Director of Corporate Communications at Chick-fil-A—asked me to come on as a visual communications consultant, he didn’t just want pretty pictures. He wanted results. And the question he kept…

When Lightroom Forgets What It Knows: A Duplicate Import Lesson

When Lightroom Forgets What It Knows: A Duplicate Import Lesson

by Stanley LearyJanuary 14, 2026March 30, 2026

One of the things Lightroom is supposed to do well is protect us from ourselves. When you import photos, Lightroom has that comforting checkbox: “Don’t Import Suspected Duplicates.” In theory, if an image already exists…

When Is It Safe to Reformat Your Camera Memory Card?

When Is It Safe to Reformat Your Camera Memory Card?

by Stanley LearyJanuary 13, 2026March 30, 2026

One of the most common questions I hear from photographers—especially those getting more serious about paid work—is surprisingly simple: “When is it actually safe to reformat my memory card?” The short answer is: later than…

The Gear We Don’t Talk About Enough: Shoes & Socks for Photographers and Filmmakers

The Gear We Don’t Talk About Enough: Shoes & Socks for Photographers and Filmmakers

by Stanley LearyJanuary 11, 2026January 11, 2026

Brooks Glycerin Max I talk a lot about cameras, lenses, computers, and software—and all of that matters. But there’s another piece of gear that quietly affects every single shoot, and most creatives ignore it until…

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