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About Michael and StraleyPhotography.com

I am an East Coast photographer living in Atlantic Beach Florida (Jacksonville) FL with a nearby studio in JAX Beach. I travel widely with a camera and shoot wherever I go. I especially love beaches, mountains and water.

I work with my clients and my partners in photography to Capture Beautiful and Exciting Moments! Your moments! Your beauty! Your life!

I shoot people - no birds, swamps or similar things! Not anymore! My three areas of focus are: portraits, events, and corporate assignments. I think there is beauty in everything - but what turns me on in photography is people and reaching the goal of capturing their expressions, body language, and attitude.

I admit it, I also do take shots of landscapes and other inanimate objects such as bridges for my private collection but my main focus is people. Getting to know my partner in this adventure is a wonderful experience for me and I try and usually succeed in making the experience something to be enjoyed and done again.

So - if you have ideas - I am happy to hear and work with them, spend some time and make them happen - if no one has gotten it right before - I'll work with you until we're both satisfied! The more you can help define what you are looking to do - the better I am able to meet your expectations - at the end of the day this is about you - not about me!

You should look to me to work hard with you to make outstanding images for model portfolios, events, weddings, romantic moments and your personal projects. You should expect great results from your photographer. I will make images for the web, for your private use portfolio, or otherwise - just let me know. I will provide images, pictures or specialty products – a wide range of professionally produced products.

I specialize and focus primarily on individuals, couples and small groups - shooting fashion, portraits, romance, beauty, and glamour – I really am so lucky – I get the absolute privilege of capturing the wonderful times and places where people have fun by themselves and together. Want to share some of your positive energy?

I have excellent professional studio space in JAX Beach – featuring great lighting, backdrops, and other tools.

I love to travel and work in new places. Inside, outside – corporate locations or in the woods, the beach – on top of a building – we will have a great time and make great moments together.

I will travel to you and will bring studio quality lighting with me – I have made certain to be able to easily transport a complete set of all of the lighting, backdrops, and everything else needed by a professional photographer and can bring it to you and your space on demand. My mobile studio duplicates the critical equipment in the studio!

Please feel free to contact me directly for inquiries about collaboration or special projects. Your ideas and suggestions for projects can be very exciting and interesting to me.

If you have a dream or a thought about doing a shoot involving people let me know - let me help you achieve your dream!

I promise – I am different – I will collaborate with you – this is about you! No ego here. If you are a regular person or couple wanting to have fun exploring the creation of images in a safe and warm professional space, if you are a model just getting started with the work, if you have an interesting hobby or profession like participants in the body building contest on my site, or if you are an experienced model wanting to explore an idea - I am your guy! I can help! I will value and listen to ideas and in a skillful and thoughtful manner will work with you to make the best possible images!

I will help you recreate a favorite pose – you know the one that made you envious that is wasn’t you in the shot - the one you always wanted on the wall, the one that makes you look better than you think you should. That is what I see through my lens – the beauty in people and their surroundings. Do you have fantasies – have you always wanted to be a fairey – flitting around from tree to tree? How about a seductress? A lady about town? I can help you get the image you want!

Do you have a party or an event you want to have photographed? There are a number of ways to do this – I can help you decide the type of photography that will be best to meet your goals for the event – whether it is documenting it or helping to add a fun touch – either way – the quality of what you get, the amount of resources necessary, and the experience that I have to apply them Will ABSOLUTELY make a difference. Are you doing a fashion shoot to raise money? Let me help you to get the best of it!

Models - I love to shoot clothes, silks, lace, feathers, and makeup - in colors of all kinds - whatever is not boring!

So contact me ASAP to set up a shoot! If you know someone who needs headshots, cool shots, whatever - please pass on my contact info - if you appreciate the quality of work and my "style" as it were, please help me find great people to work with.

I partner with excellent makeup and wardrobe people. The prints made from my site are made by some of the best photography printers in the country – high quality performance all around, every step of the way.

You deserve what you get – demand the best quality and the highest levels of commitment – you will get that from StraleyPhotography.

I have developed and provide a great deal of documentation on the site covering a variety of subjects such as: what to expect, how to prepare and how to get there. It is designed to help people look and feel their best, to anticipate what is next and to add value. Check it out, think about it, use it to make your shoot with me the best it can be!

Above all else your session with me will be fun! Count on this. You will feel special, empowered, refreshed and excited during and after the session. It is work, you do need to concentrate; but the experience is rewarding! You will have fun in participating! Making images can be very serious stuff – but does it have to be just serious? - I think it has to be fun too!

More on me and my growth in photography
I shoot Nikon equipment - D3, D3S and Pro 1.4 and 2.8 Lens. I am strong in LR and Photoshop but not dependent on them. I have studio space, light modifiers, backdrops, and studio lighting available and use them if needed. I use Paul Buff Einstein lighting and Nikon speedlights.

Organizations I belong to:
· PPA - Professional Photographers of America
· SEPPA – South East Professional Photographers of America
· JPPA – Jacksonville Professional Photographers Group
· PSA – Photographic Society of America
· JCC – Jacksonville Camera Club
· BCC – Beaches Camera Club

I have liability and equipment insurance and am registered with the State of Florida to collect taxes.

Please note - I do not provide raw images directly out of the camera – all images are color corrected, many have other work done as well. I have excellent retouching services and can have your favorite image printed on metal or hand-colored onto a canvas.

My professional rates and charges are reasonable, clear and in writing.

Contact me with questions, ideas and to say hi. I am also on FaceBook under Michael Straley - I regularly post images up there for general review and comment.

Check me out!