Professional Bio
Diane Haymes Photography – Background
DianeHaymesPhoto.com
I grew up watching my dad, a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, create art. When I got my first 35mm camera in high school, I knew I had found the outlet for my own artistic energy. Even as a student majoring in business at the University of North Carolina, I continued to follow my creative interest by including photography coursework in my schedule. I shot my first product catalog for a giftware business while still a student and one of my photos of a well-known musician later became one of his album covers.
I built a very successful career in technology sales and management, but I never stopped shooting photos. Acting as the defacto photographer for several of my employers, I often became responsible for headshots and capturing key corporate events. My passion for photography never stopped; even on vacations I was out shooting before sunrise, joining the rest of my group for breakfast once I lost the early light.
As my corporate career winded down and I began developing a plan for retirement, it was my dream to finally follow my artistic passion full-time and produce lens-based art. A few years ago I began sharing my work, first with a Facebook page and then with my own branded website. I began upgrading my gear to a professional level. I also set about further upgrading my skills and have completed courses by National Geographic photographer Joel Santore, portrait masters Annie Lebowitz and Lindsay Adler, and others. I have happily become a sponge for knowledge from the wealth of photography resources available today.
After joining the Professional Photographers of America, I took advantage of their educational opportunities not only related to shooting photos, but also focused on running a successful photography business. I officially launched my brand, Diane Haymes Photography, when I stepped out of the corporate world.
I am the official photographer for Out Front Theatre and a Lead Photographer with Atlanta Pride. I also serve on the 3(c) and 4(c) boards of Georgia Equality.
