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.

Passion Isn’t Enough — Turning Love for Photography Into Skill

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Many people tell me, “I’m passionate about photography.” And I get it. That passion is where it all starts.

But passion alone doesn’t make a professional.

I’ve had another passion all my life—music. I love playing my trumpet, cornet, and flugelhorn. I played in bands and orchestras all the way through college. I still love picking up my horn and playing.

Trumpet & Flugelhorn

But I also had a clear understanding: I didn’t have the skills to become a professional musician. And, if I’m being honest, I didn’t want to put in the kind of daily, solitary practice it would take to master those skills. Scales and etudes? They felt like work.

Photography, however, never felt that way to me. It was an adventure. I could lose track of time shooting, editing, and learning from my mistakes. I wanted to get better—and that desire carried me through the persistence and patience it takes to move from passion to professionalism.

Many people have a passion for photography, but not everyone develops the discipline or skills to turn that passion into professional work.

If that’s where you are right now—full of enthusiasm but unsure how to grow—here’s what I’ve learned about moving from passion to skill:

✅ A Checklist for Turning Passion into Professional Skill

1. Embrace Practice Like It’s Play
You’ll plateau fast if you only enjoy shooting when the conditions are perfect. True growth happens in less glamorous practice—testing light, refining composition, and learning post-production. Make practice part of the fun.

2. Seek Honest Feedback
You need someone who isn’t afraid to tell you the truth. A coach, mentor, or teacher who can look at your work and say, “Here’s where you’re strong—and here’s what’s holding you back.”
I was fortunate to have mentors like Don Rutledge, who challenged me to see beyond the obvious and work until I could tell a story through my images.

3. Be Patient With the Process
Photography, like music, takes time. You don’t go from scales to symphonies overnight. The same goes for learning to use light, tell stories, and connect emotionally through an image.

4. Build Persistence Into Your Routine
Skill is the reward for persistence. That means shooting even when you’re not inspired, editing when you’d rather be out shooting, and studying others’ work to understand what makes it effective.

5. Find the Right Motivation
Ask yourself why you want to get better. Growth will come more naturally if your motivation is rooted in love for the craft. If it’s rooted in comparison, frustration will follow.

When I was learning photography, it never felt like drudgery—it felt like discovery. Every photo shoot, every mistake, every breakthrough was another note in a much larger song.

So if you love photography, that’s a beautiful starting point. But don’t stop there. Let your passion be the spark, but let persistence, patience, and honest feedback fuel your growth.

That’s how passion becomes skill. That’s how hobbyists become professionals.

If you’re serious about taking your photography from passion to purpose, I’d love to help you grow. Through my workshops and one-on-one coaching at Storyteller & Brand Builder Stanley Leary, I help photographers and communicators develop the skills, confidence, and storytelling depth they need to do this professionally—and do it well.

Because when skill meets passion, that’s where the real magic happens.

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When AI Is the Fire of Our Age — Why Generative Intelligence May Be Humanity’s Next Wheel

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Introduction

I sometimes think about our ancestors’ first fire. That flicker in the dark. How dangerous it must have seemed at first — a force to be tamed, understood, and wielded. And later, the simple, powerful, and deceptively elegant wheel took centuries before humans grasped all its implications for transport, machines, and civilization.

In my view, the rise of generative AI is of that same magnitude. It’s not just another tool or platform. It’s a discovery whose full integration into human systems will take generations, mistakes, experimentation, adjustments, ambition, and ethics. I believe it’s bigger than the internet, bigger than social media, bigger than the cellphone.

Why It May Surpass Past Paradigm Shifts

When we look back at recorded history, fire and the wheel are shorthand for foundational leaps. They undergirded every other advance: metallurgy, agriculture, powered transportation, and mechanical engineering. The internet, social media, and mobile were built atop earlier foundations.

AI (especially generative AI) is different because it’s not just scaffolding — it amplifies cognition, a collaborator with thought. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet/Google, has explicitly made this comparison. He said AI is “more profound than fire or electricity.” Analytics Vidhya+2Supply Chain Today+2

He’s not alone. Others in tech have echoed versions of this:

  • “Artificial intelligence is one of the most profound things we’re working on as humanity. It is more profound than fire or electricity.” — Sundar Pichai Rage Inside The Machine
  • “I believe AI will change the world more than anything in the history of humanity. More than electricity.” — Kai-Fu Lee Nisum
  • “By far, the greatest danger of Artificial Intelligence is that people conclude too early that they understand it.” — Eliezer Yudkowsky Nisum
  • “Generative AI is the most powerful tool for creativity that has ever been created.” — Elon Musk Skim AI

From different vantage points, these voices recognize something deeper: AI doesn’t just change a channel or a device; it changes how thoughts are formed, stories are told, and work is done.

Even though humans have controlled fire for millennia, we’re still discovering new ways to teach and understand it. Captain Keith “Doc” Schneider used a dollhouse fire prop in the Citizens Fire Academy at Roswell to make fire dynamics visible. This miniature structure lets instructors show how ventilation points affect airflow, smoke, and flame behavior — even demonstrating backdraft in a safe, scaled format.
The so-called “dollhouse” fire prop (sometimes known in the fire service as a Palmer’s Box or compartment model) has become a staple in fire-behavior training over the past decade. It allows firefighters to internalize principles of ventilation, flow paths, and fire evolution in a controlled demonstration.

My Journey with ChatGPT

I was an early adopter when ChatGPT first came alive. In the early months, I used it, experimenting, pushing its boundaries, and testing its limits.

In those early days, I viewed it as a writing assistant — helpful in drafting, organizing, and prompting new angles. Over time, I realized its fundamental role: I became the editor, fact-checker, and steward of its output. Because I am the expert in the domains I advise on, it is not. It helps me break through writer’s block, generate lines of thought, and sketch structure — but I refine, adjust, validate, and throw out mistakes.

I believe this is how many creatives, strategists, and communicators will work in the future: AI as the generative engine, human as the arbiter, meaning-maker, and moral compass.

What Makes This Bigger Than Prior Tech Waves

  1. Cognitive leverage — prior technologies externalized power, movement, and connection. AI externalizes thought, patterns, language, and insight.
  2. Pervasiveness — mobile was universal; AI will be embedded everywhere (apps, systems, platforms).
  3. Speed of iteration — changes come in weeks or months, not decades.
  4. Unseen effects — shifts in identity, authorship, truth, agency.
  5. Ethical weight — unlike a new app or platform, AI forces us to wrestle with bias, trust, explainability, and consequences.

The wheel didn’t demand ethics committees. Fire didn’t demand governance algorithms. These now do.

Lessons from Fire & the Wheel — What History Can Teach Us

  • Fire had a dual nature: warmth and burn. We had to learn containment (hearths, controlled burns).
  • The wheel evolved — from carts to gears to engines and turbines. Over millennia, its full potential was unlocked.
  • In each leap, misuses, accidents, and buses happened. We adapted rules, crafts, and regulations.

Similarly, we must treat AI not as a toy or a gimmick, but as an artifact to be disciplined, regulated, audited, and guided. We’ll require cross-disciplinary thinking: ethics, philosophy, sociology, domain knowledge, and governance.

What I Do Today (with AI) — In My Practice

  • I let AI generate multiple outlines or creative prompts; I pick, merge, and refine.
  • I use it to surface ideas (sometimes offbeat) I might not consider.
  • I never publish its output verbatim without layering my voice, fact-checking, and reframing.
  • I treat it as a collaborator, not a creator.
  • I remain vigilant about its blind spots — bias, hallucinations, superficial fluency.

Invitation to Clients & Readers

If AI is the fire of our age — powerful, illuminating, dangerous — then we don’t want to be just spectators. We must learn to tend it. To guide it. To decide where we light it and where we snuff it.

I invite businesses, storytellers, and organizations (especially those in mission work) to explore how to use this fire wisely, not just chase sparks. How can you integrate generative AI into brand, narrative, and communication without losing humanity?

Because this is not a tool you “pick up” and put down — it’s a transformation you must learn to live with, to domesticate, to steward.

Conclusion

I believe generative AI is among human history’s most significant inflection points. If fire and the wheel were about unlocking new physical domains, AI is unlocking cognitive and imaginative ones. The journey is long, and there will be many mistakes, but the possibility is profound.

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The Story Thread – Exploring Faith and Storytelling with Seth Royal Croft

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Reading Time: 2 minutes

As a storyteller, I’m always inspired by people who use their craft to connect hearts and minds across cultures—and few do this better than Seth Royal Croft.

On Friday, October 10, 2025, at 11:00 AM Eastern, I’m hosting a live Zoom session with Seth titled “The Story Thread.” This conversation will dive into how he weaves faith, purpose, and emotion into the stories he captures through photography and film.

🔗 Join the Zoom Meeting: Click here to join
Meeting ID: 848 3602 5471
Passcode: 039521

I’m excited to announce Seth Royal Kroft as our next speaker for The Story Thread on October 10 and invite you to join us for what promises to be a powerful evening of storytelling, vision, and inspiration.

Who is Seth Royal Kroft?

Seth’s photographic journey began in the simplest ways — a disposable camera tucked into his hand on school field trips, capturing memories without knowing the “right” way. Over time, that curiosity turned into passion. He upgraded from a Kodak EasyShare, then borrowed his mother’s Canon Rebel to try photographing deer behind his home. His website: https://sethroyalkroft.com

In high school, Seth took a photography class to fulfill an art credit — not because he saw himself as a visual storyteller yet, but because it was a requirement. Yet that class planted seeds. After graduation, he worked at Best Buy, where he immersed himself in learning camera gear and techniques.

However, his six years of volunteer work with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) were the real turning point. During that time, he traveled globally and used his camera to document life, serve others, and tell stories that connected people across distances and cultures.

He continued growing, investing in training, switching systems, juggling day jobs, and guiding tours before finally stepping full-time into photography. In March 2025, Seth realized a lifelong dream and opened his own photo gallery in Billings, Montana.

Today, his work centers on mountain landscapes, wildlife, and outdoor adventure, and he partners with nonprofits to make a meaningful impact.

But more than his gear, galleries, or accolades, Seth lives by three guiding priorities: Faith, Family, and Fotography (yes, with that “F”).

What you’ll get from Seth’s talk

When Seth shares his story on October 10, you’ll hear firsthand how these elements blend:

  • The unlikely origins of a creative life
  • How setbacks and side jobs often lead to breakthroughs
  • The role of faith and family in sustaining purpose
  • How to use your craft to serve others and tell stories that matter

If you’re a photographer, storyteller, creative professional, or passionate about purpose and legacy, you’ll walk away encouraged, challenged, and inspired.

👉 Learn more about Seth’s work:
Instagram: @seth_royal_kroft

I hope you’ll join us. This conversation will remind you why we tell stories in the first place.

Why Strategy Begins with Story: Rethinking How Companies Create Real Impact

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Paul Tiendeno studies at the theology school in Koudougou, Burkina Faso, where being strategic means preparing pastors for ministry and daily life. Alongside their theological training, students learn farming skills from Clarence Lance [in red hat]—a former U.S. Department of Agriculture specialist—to sustainably support their families while serving as bi-vocational pastors in their communities.

After over 40 years of working with businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations, I’ve noticed something surprising: few leaders are truly strategic. I’ve worked closely with C-suite executives—especially CMOs—who handle marketing and public relations, and even among them, strategy often takes a back seat to tactics.

Too many organizations jump straight to asking what they can do and how they can do it, rather than why they should be doing it in the first place. Without a clear understanding of their core values—the principles that shape how they operate and why they exist—they’re left chasing short-term results rather than building long-term impact.

This mindset hurts more than individual companies—it’s hurting our economy. When businesses focus primarily on satisfying shareholders rather than serving stakeholders, they lose the trust and loyalty that make brands thrive. Employees disengage, customers drift away, and communities stop seeing them as partners. It becomes a cycle of constant rebranding and reactive marketing, instead of a genuine connection.

Being strategic means knowing your purpose and using it to guide every decision. It’s not about having the loudest message; it’s about having the clearest one.

That’s how I try to run my own business—Storyteller & Brand Builder Stanley Leary: Crafting Stories that Change Lives. I believe storytelling is the most powerful tool for communicating purpose. A well-told story does more than promote a product—it reveals why you exist and who you serve. It helps organizations realign with their values and communicate them authentically to the people who matter most.

When I work with a company that lacks a clear strategy, I start by helping them find their narrative. The process of identifying a compelling story often exposes the deeper values and motivations that have been buried under years of marketing noise. Once they rediscover that foundation, their messaging becomes focused, their marketing becomes intentional, and their audience begins to respond.

If your organization feels like it’s constantly chasing trends or struggling to stand out, it might not be a marketing problem but a strategy problem. The path to clarity often begins with a story.

I’d love to talk with you if you’d like to help uncover the story that defines your organization and guides your strategy. Let’s work together to build a message that connects deeply, communicates clearly, and makes a lasting impact.

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Behind the Scenes – Crafting Slopes BBQ’s Catering Video

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Reading Time: < 1 minute

When showcasing a business like Slopes BBQ, it’s not just about showing food—it’s about telling a story. For this latest catering video, I wanted viewers to feel the warmth, hospitality, and mouthwatering flavors that Slopes delivers with every order.

We started with the foundation: footage from their previous 30-second commercial. However, since this video is twice as long, I needed to capture new material to tell the story of their catering. That meant shooting plates stacked high with smoky proteins, family-style meals, fresh sides, and their signature bread. Every detail matters when you want to convey the quality and care that goes into each order.

I also included a drone shot at the end, pulling away from the restaurant to imply the journey of the catering order arriving at a customer’s event. It’s subtle but reinforces the connection between the restaurant and the people they serve.

Beyond the video, I pulled still images from the footage to create a gallery of photos for Slopes to use in marketing. These photos highlight the food up close and help tell the story in a static format.

Editing this video took over double the time of their original 30-second commercial. Still, the result is a rich, flavorful video that makes viewers crave a Slopes BBQ catering experience.

Check out this 30-second commercial showcasing Slopes BBQ catering for local high schools—perfect for Jumbotron screens!

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Keeping Older Macs Running the Latest macOS

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Reading Time: 2 minutes

One of the main reasons I used to buy new computers was simple: my older MacBook Pros couldn’t run the latest MacOS. Photographers depend on our computers for speed and compatibility with Lightroom, Photoshop, and Final Cut software. If your Mac can’t install the current OS, eventually, your apps stop updating, forcing an upgrade.

But today, there’s another option. Thanks to OpenCore Legacy Patcher, you can extend the life of many older Macs and run the latest MacOS—even on machines Apple no longer officially supports.

Why This Matters for Photographers

As a professional photographer, I think of my computers like my cameras and lenses. Everything has to have a backup. While I don’t have duplicate lenses for every focal length, I keep a lens in my bag that I know could get me through in a pinch. My computers are no different.

My primary laptop is my workhorse. But if it goes down, I need a reliable backup computer to let me edit, deliver images, and keep clients happy. That’s where OpenCore Legacy Patcher has been a game-changer.

My Experience

I’ve successfully installed OpenCore Legacy Patcher on three older MacBook Pros:

  • MacBook Pro 15″ (Mid 2010)
  • MacBook Pro 15″ (Mid 2011)
  • MacBook Pro 15″ (2016)

They all run the latest MacOS today. Are they as fast as a brand-new M4 MacBook Pro? Of course not. Tasks like video editing or AI-assisted edits in Lightroom definitely run slower. Newer Macs have faster CPUs, more RAM capacity, and high-speed connections that leave the older ones behind. But as a backup machine, these older Macs still get the job done—and that’s what matters most.

A General Guide

The installation process is surprisingly approachable if you follow the excellent OpenCore Legacy Patcher website documentation. Here’s the general flow:

  1. Check Compatibility – Make sure your Mac model is supported. The site has a complete list.
  2. Download OpenCore Legacy Patcher – The tool provides a simple interface for creating a patched MacOS installer.
  3. Build and Install – Use the patcher to create a bootable USB installer, then install the latest MacOS on your older Mac.
  4. Post-Install Patches – Once the OS is installed, OpenCore applies specific patches for your hardware (graphics, Wi-Fi, etc.) to ensure smooth operation.

The official documentation is well-written and worth following step by step.

The Bottom Line

I don’t recommend making an older Mac your main editing machine if you’re doing heavy work. But as a backup? It’s perfect. It gives you peace of mind, keeps you in the latest MacOS ecosystem, and buys you time before investing in your next main computer.

If you’d like help walking through the process or want me to share more about how I’ve set up my backup Macs, send me a note. I’d be glad to help.

Bonus: Handing Down Older Macs

In our household, older Macs don’t go to waste—they get passed along to my kids or wife. Their typical use is light: web browsing, checking email, using Microsoft Word or Excel, and maybe a few apps here and there. These aren’t CPU- or RAM-intensive tasks, so even older machines can handle them well.

It’s a simple way to extend the life of older Macs while keeping the whole household connected and productive.

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Another Big Failure (and Another Lesson Learned)

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Last week, I wrote about how I was proud of failing again when I corrupted my Photo Mechanic Plus catalog and had to rebuild it. That was frustrating, but the path to fixing it was clear.

This week brought a much bigger challenge.

I had installed OpenCore Legacy on my older 2016 MacBook Pro to keep running the latest macOS. It had been working fine—until Apple released macOS Tahoe. Without thinking it through, I let my machine automatically upgrade.

That was my mistake.

OpenCore Legacy didn’t yet support Tahoe, and the upgrade instantly turned my computer into a brick.

Recovering from this took me more than two days of trial and error. At first, I tried restoring from Time Machine, but I didn’t realize it only works if the system runs the same macOS version you backed up from. My machine wasn’t, so I ran into a mess of error codes.

I tried rolling back to Catalina. I tried multiple Sequoia jump-drive installs using OpenCore. At one point, I even questioned whether my installer drive was the problem—so I rebuilt that too.

The real turning point came when I discovered that my Sequoia install had never been correctly set up in the first place. Once I finally got the system running on Sequoia again, I could restore from Time Machine.

What did I learn from all this? Two simple things:

  1. Turn off automatic upgrades. Primarily, if you’re running patched or non-standard software.
  2. Check compatibility first. Just because Apple releases a new OS doesn’t mean everything in your workflow—or your hardware—will play nicely with it.

It was a hard lesson that took a lot of time, but I’ll never forget it. Sometimes, our biggest failures become the most memorable teachers.

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Proud of Failing Again

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Reading Time: 3 minutes

This week, I managed to break something big. I was working on my Photo Mechanic Plus database from two different computers, and in the process, I corrupted the catalog. With more than 670,000 images in that system, the only solution was to rebuild it — a process that takes several days.

At first, I was frustrated. Nobody enjoys setting themselves back. But once I stepped back, I realized two important things:

  1. I hadn’t been backing up my catalog. Since it lived on an external drive, it wasn’t included in my Time Machine backups. That was a blind spot in my system. Now, I’m fixing that issue and ensuring the catalog is protected.
  2. Failure is one of the best teachers. If I hadn’t made this mistake, I might have gone years without realizing the risk I was taking with my archive.

It reminded me that failure isn’t the opposite of success — it’s part of the path to it. Every time we stumble, we gain clarity on what needs to change.

So here’s the bigger question for all of us in business (and life): Have you failed lately? If not, are you stretching yourself enough to grow?

I’d rather have the occasional setback that teaches me something vital than stay safe and stagnant. Because at the end of the day, failure means I’m still learning, building, and moving forward.

In case you have a problem with Photo Mechanic Plus, here are the steps to fix it

In Photo Mechanic Plus, a red “Maintenance” button in the Catalog Management window indicates a catalog database problem requiring user action. The issue is most often due to a corrupted catalog or a catalog that has been moved or updated. 

Common causes for the red “Maintenance” warning

  • Corrupted database: This can occur for various reasons, including crashes or improperly closing the application.
  • Catalog moved: If you have moved the catalog folder or the image folders it references without using Photo Mechanic Plus, the database will lose track of the files and show a maintenance warning.
  • Software update: Some updates to Photo Mechanic Plus require the catalogs to be re-indexed to incorporate changes to the database structure. 

How to resolve the red “Maintenance” issue

Option 1: Reintegrate the catalog (Recommended)

This is the most common fix and is often required if you have moved a catalog to a new location.

  1. Navigate to Catalog > Catalog Management….
  2. In the Catalog Management dialog, find the catalog with the red “Maintenance” button and click the small disclosure triangle next to it.
  3. Click the triangle next to “Maintenance” to show the options.
  4. Click the “Reintegrate Forgotten Catalog” button. Photo Mechanic will then rescan the catalog to repair the database. 

Option 2: Optimize SQL Query Planning

Optimizing the database’s query plans can resolve the issue if you have added or removed many images.

  1. Navigate to Catalog > Catalog Management….
  2. Expand the affected catalog and the “Maintenance” options.
  3. Choose “Optimize SQL Query Planning“. 

Option 3: Re-index the catalog

This more intensive process should only be done if prompted by the application or if other methods fail.

  1. Navigate to Catalog > Catalog Management….
  2. Expand the affected catalog and the “Maintenance” options.
  3. Click “Re-Index Catalog“. 

Option 4: Restore from a backup

If the database is severely corrupted, a restoration from a backup may be necessary.

  1. Quit Photo Mechanic Plus.
  2. Restore your catalog from a known good backup.
  3. Restart Photo Mechanic Plus. 

What to do if the maintenance options are greyed out

If the maintenance options are greyed out, the catalog may be so corrupted that it can’t be repaired through the standard interface. In this case: 

  1. Stop any catalog tasks listed in the Catalog Status window.
  2. Quit Photo Mechanic Plus.
  3. Delete the cat_state.db file (instructions for macOS):
    • In the Finder, go to the “Go” menu and choose “Go to Folder…”.
    • Enter the path: ~/Library/Application Support/Camera Bits, Inc/Photo Mechanic/catalog/state.
    • Delete the cat_state.db file and any files starting with cat_state.
  4. Restart Photo Mechanic Plus and use the “Reintegrate Forgotten Catalog” button as described above. 
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25 Years of Storytelling with ISB Atlanta

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Last night, I photographed the ISB Atlanta Gala — an inspiring evening that brought together more than 500 leaders from Atlanta’s faith, business, civic, and nonprofit communities. Today, I’m excited to share a gallery of event images that capture the night’s spirit.

For me, this was more than just another assignment. My connection to ISB Atlanta goes back to its very beginning.

Around 2001, my wife, Dorie Griggs, was the Communications Manager for Faith and the City. This groundbreaking initiative produced a weekly TV show bringing Atlanta’s diverse faith communities together to discuss issues facing our city and nation. I supported the program with photography and set design, and later served as their webmaster. That work gave me a front-row seat to the power of storytelling and collaboration across faith traditions.

Through Faith and the City, Dorie invited Soumaya Khalifa to be a panelist. In 2001, Soumaya founded the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta (ISB Atlanta). Since that first encounter, I’ve been fortunate to witness — and photograph — her incredible leadership in fostering understanding, combating intolerance, and building connections across communities.

“A Call to Faith: Building Authentic Relationships Out of the Ashes of 9/11” — The 2nd 9/11 Remembrance Service at Ebenezer Baptist Church, hosted by the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta, brought people of all faiths together in unity, healing, and hope.

My interfaith journey continued when I became webmaster for the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta (FAMA), working closely with Imam Plemon El-Amin and Jan Swanson, both founding board members. I documented events that brought people of different backgrounds together, including the powerful 9/11 commemoration at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Faith and the City, FAMA, and ISB Atlanta stood united in hope and solidarity.

Ambassador Andrew Young & Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia together at the Culminating Worship Service at the Annual Meeting, held at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. Rev. Dr. Kobia — former General Secretary of the World Council of Churches and current Chairman of Kenya’s National Cohesion & Integration Commission — has long been a voice for reconciliation, peace, and interfaith dialogue. This gathering was supported by Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta (FAMA), strengthening the community through faith and inclusion.

Looking ahead, 2026 will mark ISB Atlanta’s 25th anniversary. For nearly a quarter of a century, Soumaya has invited Atlanta’s leaders to learn about Islam, celebrate service, and most importantly, see one another as fellow human beings.

As I share this new gallery of photos from last night’s gala, I’ll also open my archives to highlight moments from the past 25 years of interfaith storytelling — from the Faith and the City TV program to gatherings with FAMA to milestone events with ISB Atlanta.

It has been one of the great honors of my career to help tell this story of unity, respect, and bridge-building. And I’m grateful to continue capturing ISB Atlanta’s story as it moves toward its 25th year and beyond.

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Why Realtors Need Real Headshots — Not Just an AI Filter

by Stanley LearyPhotography
Reading Time: 2 minutes

The most successful realtors know that photography is about branding. It is one of the most important ways a realtor establishes themselves and determines who is attracted to that brand.

Your headshot isn’t just a picture — it’s your handshake, welcome mat, and digital first impression. Before clients ever meet you, they’ve already formed an opinion based on your photo across Zillow, LinkedIn, your website, or a business card. That image communicates whether you’re trustworthy, approachable, and competent.

In this post, I’ll explore why investing in a professional photographer (with light retouching) still beats DIY photos or AI-generated headshots, and why branding through authentic imagery matters more than ever.

Branding Begins With the Face You Show

  • People form an opinion about your face in milliseconds.
  • In real estate, where trust is everything, the quality of your headshot signals whether you’re detail-oriented, professional, and confident.
  • A polished, consistent photo becomes a branding anchor — making you recognizable across platforms and memorable to clients.

Professional Photographer + Retouching: Why It Works

BenefitWhy It Matters for Branding
Lighting & composition masteryPros know how to shape light and use angles that highlight your personality while staying flattering.
Direction & expression coachingImages that capture your personality create a unified look across your website, business cards, social media, and MLS profiles.
Consistency across platformsConsistent, professional images tie together your website, business cards, social, and MLS profiles.
Natural, light retouchingDistractions removed without altering your authenticity. You look like you, just at your best.
Long-term ROIA professional headshot can serve you for years, making the upfront investment pay off many times over.

DIY Photos: What They Gain, What They Risk

DIY shots have their place — but they come with limitations:

  • Pros: Free or inexpensive, easy to redo anytime, flexible.
  • Cons: Often lack polish (harsh lighting, cluttered background, stiff expression). Editing apps can over-smooth or create artificial looks that distract from authenticity.

Clients may not articulate what feels “off,” but they can sense when an image doesn’t project confidence or professionalism.

AI-Generated Headshots: The Shortcuts and the Pitfalls

AI tools promise fast, inexpensive results. And they can deliver something “good enough.” But here’s where they fall short for branding:

  • Authenticity gaps: AI over-idealizes features, smoothing skin or reshaping faces in ways that don’t match reality.
  • Trust concerns: When clients meet you, the difference between the AI version and the real you can feel jarring, and trust can slip.
  • Privacy & ownership risks: Many platforms require uploading multiple personal images, with unclear data usage.
  • Ethical questions: Misrepresenting yourself visually can undermine credibility in a people-driven business.

What Experts & Associations Say

  • The National Association of Realtors emphasizes professionalism and authenticity in marketing images — and warns against misleading photo enhancements.
  • Photography experts agree: professional headshots deliver more substantial ROI, better branding consistency, and more natural expressions than AI or DIY alternatives.

The Takeaway for Realtors

Your headshot isn’t just about looking good — it’s about building trust and establishing a brand that attracts the right clients.

  • Go professional when possible. Make it part of your brand investment, like your website or signage.
  • Retouch lightly. Aim for authentic, not artificial.
  • Keep it updated. Refresh every 2–3 years, or when your appearance changes significantly.
  • Stay consistent. Use the same headshot across platforms for brand recognition.

In real estate, clients aren’t just hiring a company — they’re hiring you. Show them a headshot that reflects your professionalism and builds the trust that closes deals.

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The Power of Community Gatherings

by Stanley LearyPhotography
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This weekend, I photographed the 2nd Annual Heroes, Hummers & Hops, hosted by the Roswell First Responders Foundation at From the Earth Brewing Company. The afternoon was filled with incredible food, craft beer, live music, and laughter—but at its heart, it was about something much more profound: community.

Events like this remind me why I love telling stories with my camera. They show us that a strong community isn’t built in boardrooms or policies—it’s built when people come together face to face. It’s neighbors sharing a meal, local businesses offering their best, and people taking time to honor those who protect and serve.

As I photographed, I noticed how many little moments told the bigger story:

  • A local radio station came to interview the event promoters
  • Police officers are listening to the longtime residents.
  • Friends raising a glass to celebrate first responders.

While small on its own, each of these interactions wove together into a powerful picture of gratitude and connection.

It’s easy in today’s world to feel divided or distracted. But gatherings like Heroes, Hummers & Hops remind us that community spirit is alive and well here in Roswell. Supporting our first responders isn’t just about saying “thank you.” It’s about showing up, being present, and sharing the experience.

I’m proud to play a small role in telling this story through images. In the end, photographs are more than snapshots—they’re reminders of what’s possible when a community comes together to care for those who care for us.

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Remembering, Reflecting, and Capturing Courage on 9/11

by Stanley LearyPhotography
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Just yesterday, our country faced another act of violence—this time in the tragic shooting and death of Charlie Kirk. It’s a harsh reminder that our world feels more polarized than ever, and the threats to our safety and unity come from more than just outside our borders. I saw one post on social media today that resonated deeply: “As Americans, we need to act like we did on 9/12.” That simple sentiment—of coming together in shared humanity—felt especially poignant during today’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony.

At the Roswell ceremony, city councilwoman Lee Hills spoke with heartfelt emotion about the ongoing suffering in our country. She reminded us that the attacks of 9/11 weren’t just external—they’ve taken new forms within our own communities: school shootings, political violence, and even the erosion of civil discourse around the freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment. Her message was clear: we must learn to live together, to embrace our differences without turning disagreement into harm.

City Council Member WILL MORTHLAND gives his remarks during Roswell’s 9/11 Commemorative Ceremony at City Hall, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. The annual service honored the victims and heroes of the September 11 attacks.
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Moving through the ceremony with my camera, I tried to capture the full spectrum of emotions—from solemn reflection to quiet determination. Each speaker’s words carried weight; I wanted to honor that visually. I also focused on the first responders present—men and women who, even today, rush into danger to keep our communities safe, mirroring the courage shown on 9/11.

Through these images, I hope viewers can feel not just the memory of that day, but the ongoing commitment of everyday heroes, the call for unity in a fractured world, and the powerful emotions that bind us together as a community.

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