Who Am I?

Software developer by day, photographer at heart. While my time behind the camera is not my day job I still take the art and process of a photo shoot as seriously as any professional. I consider myself a generalist and have had experience with providing images of architecture, real estate, street, concerts, corporate events, headshots, historic locations, sports, restaurants, and weddings. Though by far my favorite subject is event photography just due to so many skills are necessary to cover all aspects.

I’ve had an eye for art and a love of photography for a long as I can remember. I began with the Minolta and Yashica SLR cameras of my parents, owned several APS and 35mm point & shoot cameras, and I made the move to digital SLR’s in 2005. Though even from my point & shoot days I was happy to have had my some of my work purchased or published by various marketing firms.

I am a married father of one, and I owe my current love of photography to my daughter, who at a young age was a natural ham for the camera and loved to get dressed up for a photo shoot. Though these days she’s less inclined to step in front of the lens unless it’s a soccer game or a school activity. My little family has always sought out new things which led me to many events and places I would never have experienced nor photographed otherwise. We currently reside in the suburbs just outside of Atlanta, GA.

My Style

I prefer to shoot with available light and fast lenses, capturing a scene as it is. When the need for light modification arises I generally take a small-flash approach as opposed to a big studio light setup. In terms of post-processing, for people I prefer to just work with things as they are and avoid over-the-top touch-ups (no glowing eyes/teeth or porcelain skin retouching, sorry). Though I’m open to trying any technique that will complement a shot, not overpower it. Overall I prefer a photojournalist (candid) style as opposed to a traditional (posed) style of photography, capturing the moment as it happens, and not try to make it in any way artificial.

Would I shoot (X) event for you?

For casual shoots such as corporate events, engagement sittings, or family portraits I’m more than willing to discuss your needs. However, for life-changing/one-time events you owe it to yourself to consider a full-time professional photographer. The memories of your special day are precious, and I cannot in good conscience offer my services for such an event that would be better fulfilled by someone better suited for that task.

What are your rates?

Environmental: This type of work covers commercial space (eg. restaurant or store), architectural, real estate, headshots, or any on-site photoshoots at $150/hr, with a 1 hour minimum.

Event Coverage: Photojournalist style coverage begins at $200 for the first hour (minimum). Additional time may be provided at $150/hr. Images are provided in high-quality JPEG format for social media and non-commercial/organizational use. For print media or commercial use, additional rights may be negotiated based on intended usage.

Commissions: I am willing to negotiate a fair commission for my work based on your exact needs. This includes any special projects or existing works that you may wish to license or purchase.

For reference, all hourly rates account for actual shooting time, image post-processing, and media delivery. I typically do not provide print packages unless requested, instead delivering print-ready/non-watermarked images in digital form. This tends to make the most sense for sharing via social media and allows you to print exactly the size and quantity of photos you need.

Can you bore me with technical details?

Absolutely! I shoot in RAW, meaning all images are pristine and original, exactly as the camera recorded the scene. This allows more flexibility in post-processing though more importantly no loss of quality between the camera and my editing software. I catalog and process photos in Adobe Lightroom, which nicely integrates with Adobe Photoshop for more advanced retouching needs. Given that digital photography is a data-driven service, and with my background is in IT, you can rest assured that all reasonable precautions are taken to carefully store and curate your photo files just as one would do with precious negatives of film.

Can I buy prints or image rights?

Yes. My library of work is available for prints or licensing, and I am open to negotiate the price depending on the intended use of the image (e.g. commercial vs. non-commercial, gallery print vs. magazine ad).

How can I get in touch with you?

I tend to answer emails more quickly, so you can contact me at photo@dustingrau.com. I can also be reached by cell at 678-597-8798, if you prefer. Or for you social media types find me on Flickr, Twitter, or Instagram as @JustinDustin.