COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Educated at The Corcoran

Trained By National Geographic

Photo by Whysall Photography shot for Audubon Magazine

SERVING MD, DC, VA Over 20 Years

Commercial Photography includes Fitness, Gourmet Food, Headshots, Products, Real Estate, and Advertising

MY EXPERT LIGHTING WILL SHOWCASE YOUR WEBSITE WITH POWERFUL  IMAGERY

Sometimes I use soft, even light when photographing. Sometimes I gel the background and use an edgy lighting to make the product or person pop out into the frame. You will see a lot of vibrant colors in my commercial portfolio.

To be a good photographer requires the difficult blend of art and science. Art to understand what elements to include in the photo, and the science to properly expose and use the light. I learned my lighting techniques from NATGEO.

Some Commercial Reviews

  • The Perfect Gourmet Review

    The Perfect Gourmet Review

    I was searching for a local photographer to do food photos for our website, and talked to several before deciding to work with Steve— whom I chose because he was the most pleasant, had the most experience, and was a former chef! I definitely made the right decision. I’ve worked with him on three separate occasions now, and have had nothing but wonderful experiences. He is professional, accommodating, and super fun to work with— as is his assistant. He was able to translate our vision (which was admittedly vague at times) into gorgeous photos that we are very excited to showcase on our new website. Cannot say enough good things, and would definitely recommend his services. Thank you, Steve

    Clare

  • Frederick Cheesecakes

    Frederick Cheesecakes

    When I Googled “gourmet food photographer in Frederick MD”, Whysall Photography was the first to pop up. I read through Steve’s website and thought this guy sounds too good to be true. But I took my chances and gave him a call to see if he would take photographs of my cheesecakes for my small start up business. We spoke a few minutes on the phone. He was kind and accommodating and instantly I felt confident he was the guy for the job. We met that same week to discuss my vision. After just a few minutes of consulting with Steve, and seeing samples of his work, I knew that he was more than qualified to meet my needs. His credentials are impressive, but he exceeds them on a personal level. Steve is not only an artist, a visionary, a professional and a perfectionist when it comes to his craft, he is a genuinely nice and caring human being. He will not rest until he gets it just right. He created images that exceeded my vision. Without hesitation, I recommend Steve for any and all of your photography needs.

    — Tee

  • Headshot Review

    Headshot Review

    I needed headshots for work that are not too stiff and show my personality. I also wanted some for family. Steve was a joy to work with and HE MADE ME LOOK 10 YEARS YOUNGER. Of course, I’m shouting! I’m 52 and his lighting was beautiful. No airbrushing, just lighting. If you look close, you can tell I’m starting to get wrinkles, but the lighting really diminishes them. And Steve had me cracking up so he got some laughing shots my family members love. The one you see here <<< that tiny head shot, that is the one I chose for work. I think you can click my link and see a few more. You can also see how this one looks in full length. They were not all identical and it was a very hard choice. When you go to Steve’s full web site, take a look at the commercial, travel, weddings and architecture shots. Wow. Walking around in the studio feels like being inside of a National Geographic magazine.”

    — Beth

How I Became a commercial photographer
 

Educated at The Corcoran

I was educated at The Corcoran Gallery of Art. My art and photography classes at the Corcoran taught me how to create artistic compositions. This realIy helps for the portrait sessions to pose you in the most flattering angles to make you look your best. My goal is to make you feel like a magazine model no matter your age or weight. While my fellow students were off shooting nudes for their senior thesis, I volunteered at the Kensington Fire Department for two years and created a powerful portfolio that was shown on local TV and published around the Washington, DC metro area.

My photos included action shots taken during a three alarm fire in a commercial building, where I got so close I nearly burned my hand and melted my camera getting the photos. In fact, one of the firefighters shouted, “Get that photographer out of here!”

I rounded out my thesis with portraits of fire fighters around the station, and in numerous life threatening emergency situations requiring ambulance services.

While I have a passion for shooting portraits, I also excell at still life, like products, that you want to sell.

What will this cost?

Not as much as you May think

Why hire a fancy New York photographer, or an expensive Washington, DC photographer to shoot your products when you can get that high-end quality right here in Frederick, Maryland?

Send me your products and I will shoot them and return them to you

        Find out........

  • How long it will take to photograph your products

  • When you will get your finished images

  • How much your photos will cost

bring your products to life

For small, delicate products, such as jewelry, you want the entire piece to be in focus.  There is a method to doing this that only a professional photographer understands.  Shooting your piece so every stone shines, and every area is tack sharp cannot be done just because you sit next to a window, and shoot in a natural light scenario.

Trained By National Geographic

Having graduated top in my class at The Corcoran I was chosen to assist a locally well-known NATGEO photographer, Richard Nowitz, for 5 years on commercial assignments.  For the National Geographic, I shot some aerial photos that were used in a book about our nation's capital.

I have photographed travel destinations for Conde Nast and World Magazine

As a photojournalist for Greenpeace, I was responsible for photographing toxic environments for several ad campaigns.

Another assignment took me to the Badlands of South Dakota where I lived among the Sioux Indians. While there I developed a series of photographs telling a story of these proud people, their rich culture and how the modern world has impacted their survival.

NATGEO not only taught me the expert lighting skills, but I learned how to think quickly on my feet to problem solve.  I was shooting the skyline of the city. There's no better experience than filming when a sudden thunderstorm rushes in unexpectedly.  While you are running for cover and protecting your gear, you turn around to see a great photo opportunity.  And then you jump and turn it into an extraordinary session.  That is how I got this red tree photo.

You Need A Photographer who feels how to show your products vision

When I photograph products I have to feel my vision of what to include in the sales message.  I keep tweaking and thinking about the message and what to include for the sales message.  You want to include enough elements to share your message, but not too many that it looks cluttered.  Once it’s designed to my high standards, then I begin shooting.

For example, I have a client who just wanted his beef jerky bags photographed professionally for his website.  I was happy to do that, but as he was in my studio we began talking about his sales message, his unique proposition.  I sent him to the store to get a few ingredients while I photographed his bags.  

HERE IS HIS PRODUCT VISION:

Now there's nothing wrong with this photo. It's clean, and professionally lit. But does it convey the sales message like my vision?

My Product Vision

Commercial Products Photographer

I use proven photography techniques that show your products with deep, rich colors, and tap into my unique feeling to make your products pop in the frame. Sometimes I use clean even lighting, like with my client’s Genius jerky photo, and sometimes I choose a more dramatic, colorful lighting. It depends how the product feels. His cost of adding my ingredients? About an additional $50. I think it was worth it.

Some of my commercial clients include the following:
National Geographic
Advanced Contractors
Aretech Zero Gravity
Cameron’s Seafood
Impact Graphics
Encore Construction
Epling Landscape
Frederick Arts Council
Greenpeace
Washington Hospital Center
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services
Media General
The perfect Gourmet
Greater Washington Plastic Surgery Associates
Genius Jerky
Greenmake Food
Harpers Ferry Magazine
Jefferson Magazine
NRA
Occasions Catering
Creative Impressions Catering
3 Citron Caterers
Windcurrent Technology
Women's Bar Association
Washington project for the Arts
Corcoran School of Art
Sandler Sales Training
The Red Cross Frederick Bachelor Raffle
The Frederick Tourism Council
The Frederick Magazine
Bozzuto Homes
Gallegher Real Estate
Greenberg & Bederman - a law firm in Silver Spring, MD
Joseph Greenwald + Lake - a law firm in Greenbelt, MD
Wampler & Souder, LLC - a law firm in Frederick, MD