About WDO Photography

My story begins in the rolling hills and valleys of West Virginia. With my trusty 110 film camera I learned to see and understand the world. I grew up in a working class union family.

My camera taught me the outlines of storytelling. In addition, I had a neighbor growing up who was a portrait painter. For hours I would sit and watch her. She'd turn smudges of pigment into faces. This fascinated me.

For every holidays and birthdays I was the one pressing the shutter on my mom's Polaroid 600. In addition, I was constantly creating visual stories in many mediums; mostly via drawings and paintings.

At the age of 12 my parents separated. Then my mom lost her "good job." As a result I became a latchkey kid with virtually no supervision.

Ultimately, my time without others watching over me gave me time to explore the world creatively. On my own I could experiment, day-dream, and create art.

Then, in high school I took a photography class. Instantly I was hooked. The class allowed me to be creative, tell stories, and explore the world. Everything I saw and felt could easily be recorded.

At 15 I started work in a factory. The factory rebuilt transmission and engine coolers for heavy equipment. As a result, I witnessed some of the uglier sides of life.

For example, the poverty that many working class folks deal with daily. Fun fact, the owner of the factory that I worked at dropped out of the WV Governor's race. He did so after it became publicly known that many of his employees were on government assistance due to his poverty wages.

Still, no matter how poorly my co-workers were paid, they were incredibly hard workers. I learned how to find what needed done and to do it. My foremen taught me how to give it my all even if the bosses gave us very little. Taking pride in hard work and doing the job right became equally important to me.

Just before I turned 18 my whole shift was let go. The temperature was in the high 90s. We'd taken a slightly longer break to cool down. Despite that break we processed around 100 units. The day-shift averaged 20 units on a good day with more staff. Plus we had to clean the line at the end of each shift and still got out 100 pieces.

Shortly after letting us go the company lost several big customers. They couldn't keep up with demand. That entire experience taught me a lot of valuable lessons: focus on meeting the need.

The process and how it's done matters less than the results. Also, if people are treated well they'll do better work.

After my factory experience I didn't know what I wanted to do. However, I knew what I didn't want to do. I didn't want to work for people who didn't value me. Plus, I didn't want to struggle like my mom was. She'd taken on 3 jobs after losing her good paying job and was working herself to death.

About this time my mom asked what I planned to do after graduating high school. Honestly, without putting much thought into it I decided to become a photographer.

I didn't know what to do to become a professional photographer. It was then that a salesperson from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh (AIP) talked to my class. She told me there were no other options. If I wanted to be a photographer AIP was my only choice.

My mom didn't know any different. It had been years since she went to college. As a result, she was unaware of the predatory nature of for-profit schools.

There were of course less expensive and better options than the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. That means I could have learned photography elsewhere.

The parent company of the Art Institutes, EDMC, were pure evil. They're closed now due to committing massive amounts of fraud.

Of course, the lessons still stick with me. In addition, I fell in love with Pittsburgh. Additionally, it was my entry to working for other Pittsburgh photographers. Also, I continued my education at Point Park University then the University of Pittsburgh.

Sadly, I didn't finish at either. As it happens, undiagnosed ADHD makes learning much harder.

Even before graduating I began to work for other photographers in Pittsburgh. I did most every type of photography. My dream of being a photojournalist led me to the suburban Gateway Newspapers, now owned by the Tribune Review.

Also, I worked for some of Pittsburgh's best commercial photographers. Then there were a handful of great event photographers in Pittsburgh. Additionally, I worked as a second photographer for weddings and an assistant for family photographers.

After working for other Pittsburgh photographers I struck out on my own in 2007. I founded WDO Photography and began taking on any photography work I could find. At the time this was mostly family photos, senior portraits, and weddings.

Then, I got a contract to do photography for colleges and universities. Plus, I began to do sports photography for another Pittsburgh photographer who has the kids sports photography market nailed down.

As the years past I began to take on more commercial work. As happens, I met and ended up working with a number of great marketers who hired me for jobs that let me shine. Increasingly I found myself drawn towards photographing small businesses.

Over time I've learned how to identify the marketing needs of these small business owners. Too, I've come to understand what they're looking for in customers and how to help them get there with great photography.

Along with the commercial photography, I took on more event photography as time progressed. In fact, event photography grew into one of my main sources of income for most of the 2010s.

During and since that time I have photographed countless conferences, conventions, meetings, pressers, product launches, and more. Today, post Covid, events are once again picking up. As such, if you're looking for an event photographer in Pittsburgh I would love to hear from you.

I ran a nonprofit, Strip District Neighbors for several years during a particularly difficult time for the organization. With help we managed to pull it out of a nosedive. Today, it's set on the right track. That's because I'm nothing if not a problem solver. Plus, I'm dedicated to doing things right.

Until the summer of 2025 I lived in Swissvale with my wife Zhanna and our cat Glasha. Zhanna defended her PhD and accepted a professorship at Emory University in Atlanta. As a result, we left Pittsburgh in the summer of 2025 for Atlanta, GA.

When I'm not taking photos for clients I'm in the woods creating fine art nature photos. Alternatively I can be found teaching others photography. If not that, I'm on the soccer field playing pickup football with people from all over the world.

Today I'm looking to do more advocacy and conservation photography. My goal is to tell stories about the places I love and the threats they face. Additionally, I'm teaching more private lessons. However, my goal is to work more with groups that are ignored, neglected, and marginalized. Amplifying their stories is critical at this time in the US.

Plus, I'm also looking to exhibit more fine art photography. You can see a list of where I've exhibited below. Who can say what the future holds. I certainly can't. However, I can tell you that no matter what it brings I will have my camera at the ready.

In 2022 I joined the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers. I was elected to the position of Secretary of the Board. In Dec. of 2023 I resigned from the board and left ASMP.

Another member of our board was the victim of a smear campaign that resulted in their resigning and leaving the organization. I will not be a party to any group that condones and allows things such as this. Therefore I resigned as both a board and general member.

To be clear, I am still committed to advancing the market and industry. I was proud to serve my local chapter and to work to improve the Pittsburgh photography industry and nationwide. However, I lost faith in the national organization.

Here are some of the biggest highlights of my career as a photographer. First, I've worked with a ton of amazing clients and I treasure all the great encounters I've had. That said, photographing a sitting US president is one big highlight.

Teaching photography is so incredibly rewarding. Seeing a student understand a concept lights up my life. Plus, having worked with students with disabilities is a special honor. Helping others whose voices are often ignored to tell their stories makes me feel complete.

Looking at old self-portraits like this it's hard to know where the time has gone. I've been a working photographer for more than 25 years. My baby-face youthful days are long behind me. However, I've not lost the curiosity. Nor have I lost the love of photography that still drives me today.

Too, in all that time I have had the privilege to help capture and tell some truly amazing stories. As a result, I've learned a great deal about storytelling and the power of photography. Additionally, I've honed my skills through photographing lots of different subjects for lots of different purposes.

I truly believe that everyone's story deserves to be heard. We all have unique contributions to offer to the world. So I love having the opportunity to help people share their talents and tell their stories.

Something else I love is the ability to  tell a wide range of stories that matter. Plus, I get to tell the stories of working class people. Our stories often get overlooked. As a result, I feel privileged to preserve them for future reflection.

I'm a photographer and storyteller. So, tell me your what you want the world to see. When they look at you what should they understand? I will help you achieve that. For the last twenty-five-plus-years I've worked with people just like you. I've helped to tell their stories.

You know what you want the world to see. Plus, you know the story you want to tell. I translate your ideas into photos. Your portrait tells a story. From your pose to how you're lit, you show the world what you want them to see.

So, before I take a single photo of you we'll talk. How you want people to feel or think about you? Do you want to project strength, kindness, wisdom, etc.?

No matter your truth, together, we will create photos that tells your story and shows the world who you no matter the type of photography we're doing. From your headshot to your company's event, let's tell your story.

As I mentioned, I graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 2001. Then I attended Point Park University and the University of Pittsburgh. I studied photography and photojournalism. So I feel the need to thank Barry Lavery, Tom Donnelly, John Beale, and Karen Antonelli.

I learned so much from these incredible photographers.

Barry Lavery was an expert storyteller. He traveled the world and had passion and empathy only matched by his wit and enthusiasm for life.

Tom Donnelly was a walking database of photographic knowledge. He could take a photo of a hunk of coal and make it look sexy.

John Beale continues to amaze me with his abilities to find and photograph the mundane in unique and interesting ways.

Finally Karen Antonelli has always inspired me with her quiet patience. She seems to lets the world come together in front of her lens rather than building facades.