Hi, I’m Dalton, and I Want to Be Your Photographer

But I didn’t always know that’s where I was headed.

For a long time, photography was just a curiosity, something I admired from a distance. I had plenty of friends and family who worked in creative fields, and part of me always wondered what it would be like to make a living doing something artistic. But I took a different route.

Straight out of high school, I joined the military. College didn’t feel like the right fit, and I wanted to push myself in a different way. After serving, I transitioned into federal defense contracting, working in and around the D.C. area. For a while, that life worked out, it was structured, stable, and predictable. But eventually, I felt the burnout. I was tired of the rat race, tired of working for the government, and honestly, just tired of not feeling connected to the work.

In 2022, I left D.C. behind and moved to Phoenix to start a new chapter. I took on a role at Amazon to build and lead a new program, and while that move gave me a fresh start professionally, it also opened the door to something much bigger: a real, unexpected love for photography.

From Curiosity to Craft

Arizona has always felt like a second home to me. I spent summers here as a kid, visiting family and soaking up the desert sun. Moving here gave me the space to reconnect with old friends, and those friends didn’t waste any time pushing me toward my creative side.

What started as a hobby quickly turned into something more serious. I picked up a camera and started walking the streets, shooting life as it unfolded. That’s when I truly fell in love with street photography, capturing real people, in real moments, with no posing or staging.

I studied hard. I watched every video I could find on lighting, framing, exposure, and timing. I got addicted to the trial and error, the split-second decisions, the patience it takes to wait for the right shot, and the reward when you catch something truly real.

My Style: Street-Inspired, Story-Driven

Today, I bring that same street-inspired mindset to all my work, whether I’m shooting a couple, a car, or a dive bar full of friends. As an Arizona-based photographer, I aim to capture the moment as it happens, not as it’s posed.

Here's how that plays out across different types of sessions:

Couples & Portrait Sessions

My favorite sessions are the ones that feel like real life. Whether I’m working with couples celebrating an engagement or just looking for a fun shoot, I like to keep it relaxed and true to who you are. We might shoot at your favorite local spot or just walk and talk while I capture the incredible connection between you and your partner.

If you’re looking for an engagement photographer who doesn’t make you feel stiff or overly posed, I think we’ll get along great. I use natural light boosted with off-camera flash to bring emotion and texture to each frame.

Car Photography

I approach car photography with the same attention to story and light as I do with people. Some of my favorite shots happen early in the morning, when the air is heavy and the sunlight wraps softly around the car’s lines. I want the vehicle to speak for itself, no fake drama or over-editing. Just clean, honest beauty captured at the right moment.

Candid Events & Nights Out

This is where my street background really comes to life. I love photographing parties, events, and spontaneous nights out, especially in low-light, high-vibe spaces like dive bars. Music thumping, drinks flowing, flash popping, that’s my zone.

Whether it’s a birthday, a creative gathering, or a low-key hang with friends, I aim to capture the night the way it felt. Messy. Fun. Honest.

Weddings with a Street Edge

While I don’t approach wedding photography in the traditional sense, I do love working with couples who want something a little different think more documentary, less cookie-cutter. If you're planning a small wedding, elopement, or afterparty-style reception and want photos that actually feel like you, let’s talk. I bring the same candid, street-style energy to weddings as I do every shoot.

Why I Do This

At the end of the day, I shoot because I care about connection. I care about preserving the feeling of a moment, not just how it looked, but how it felt. The best photos aren’t the ones that look flawless. They’re the ones that hit you in the chest a little bit. The ones that remind you of something real.

Photography gives me a way to slow down, pay attention, and document life as it unfolds. My goal is to do the same for the people I work with; to create images that don’t just live in your camera roll, but actually mean something.

Let’s Make Something Real

If you’ve been looking for a photographer who brings a more candid, creative approach to portraits, cars, couples, or events I’d love to work together. Whether you’re planning a shoot or just want to talk ideas, I’m here for it.

Thanks for reading,
Dalton
Arizona-based Photographer. Storyteller.