Studio Stories

Piecing Myself Back Together

Feb 02, 2025

Updated 2/5/25 with IPC results and images It was seven or eight o’clock. I can’t recall the exact time anymore. It was night and it was fairly cool to be mid-September. The wind may have been blowing. There was only a streetlamp on a light pole to illuminate the very long driveway to my house. It was pitch dark otherwise. My front door was open, allowing the night air to permeate the interior of the living room through the screen door.There was a single lamp in the den to ...

That Bald Guy that Takes Pictures

Dec 14, 2024

It was suggested to me that I should reintroduce myself periodically. I don’t like it. I’d much rather be photographing or digitally painting you. I’d rather be photographing wildlife or hiking through the mountains. I’d rather be trudging through the snow in negative temperatures to get that one image that I seek with every adventure. I’d rather be talking with my friends’ kids, who always seem to brighten my day. ...

I LOVE wildlife, even when covered in urine

Dec 09, 2024

Caught you off guard with that title, right? I’ve always loved wild animals. There’s this rush of adrenaline every time I come close to some wild beast – predator or prey – that I just can’t explain. It happens when I’m in a tree stand hunting or just riding by a lake and seeing hundreds of ducks. Even when I see an eagle for the hundred-thousandth time my heart jumps out of my chest. ...

From Behind the Shutter to the Front of It

Apr 08, 2024

For years I’ve preached the importance of portraits, any kind of portraits, hanging on the walls of your homes. I’ve explained how it boosts confidence and speaks volumes of the love and memories you share with your family. They affect self-esteem and create an insurmountable value that only increases over time, unlike a car or a cell phone that depreciates the moment you purchase them. I can confirm the above because I’ve lived it. I never had portraits made growing ...

The Importance of High School Senior Portraits

Mar 20, 2024

As graduation approaches ever-closer, parents and seniors alike embark on a journey of reflection, anticipation, and celebration. Amidst the flurry of preparations for the next chapter, one tradition stands out as a timeless rite of passage: high school senior portraits. Let’s explore why parents should prioritize booking senior portraits for their teens, with a focus on fostering confidence, nurturing self-esteem, and celebrating our Christian values.Fostering ConfidenceThe teenage years ...

A Good Death

Feb 01, 2024

A Good Death A gold medal? I’ll take it! The results of the International Photographic Competition didn’t turn out the way I wanted – but I’m in good company! I got to sit and watch with old friends, new friends, and some of the best photographers and artists in the world. Out of how many entries did my artwork make it to the top eight in the United States? I’ve heard mixed numbers so I won’t repeat them. I came home with a Gold Medal in ...

When should you have your senior portraits made?

Nov 15, 2023

Coming from a studio that specializes in, first and foremost, High School Senior portraits, I’m naturally going to tell you, “NOW is the PERFECT time for your senior portraits!” Right? How could I not? Let’s be real here, when you have your senior portraits made, it needs to be when YOU love them the most. Okay, so what does that even mean? Let me go off on a tangent. My favorite time of the year is fall and winter. So what looks better, fall or winter? Fall ...

The 2024 Calendar Story

Oct 21, 2023

The Stories of the Calendar Order your 2024 Calendar from Corey McDonald Portrait Artist here. I’m so excited to launch my first ever calendar featuring scenes both photographic and photographic paintings. I decided to tell you all about each image featured, beginning with January. All of the images selected are very special to me.January’s image looks pretty cold, right? It was only a little below freezing that morning. I was on my trip with Find Your Focus in ...

What do guys need to wear?

May 08, 2023

I’m going to talk about something that guys don’t really want to hear but it needs to be talked about anyway. What are you wearing? Don’t laugh. Ok, laugh. I am. But seriously, when we’re talking about portraits, there are a few do’s and a few don’ts. For example, do bring plenty of outfit choices, even if your portrait session only has two outfits. Don’t come in short-shorts and flipflops, especially if we’re in the ...

Shaking in my chair

May 01, 2023

I am very much overwhelmed at the moment. Amid the chaos of reassessing my studio and rebranding from the ground up, the Master Photographers International announced today the top winners of the International Imaging Competition for 2022 (last year’s entries). I want to first of all say that God gets all the glory and praise for this. Without Him, nothing about my career would be possible. It’s hard, sometimes, to make art and continue to provide for myself and somehow, God ...