Professional Photography for Brands and Businesses

Why a Developer Does Photography

Photography might seem disconnected from software engineering, but they share a common thread: both are about communicating something complex in a clear, compelling way. A well-designed UI and a well-composed photograph both require understanding your audience, directing attention, and getting the details right.

I started photographing professionally when local businesses around me — salons, spas, small restaurants — needed visual content for their websites and social media but couldn't justify agency-level budgets. My background in product design helps me understand what businesses actually need from their photos: images that tell a story and convert visitors into customers.

Types of Work

• Interior / Atmosphere — Capturing the look and feel of a physical space. Especially important for salons, spas, and hospitality businesses where ambiance is a selling point.
• Service in Action — Photographing treatments, processes, or interactions that show what the customer will experience.
• Product — Clean, well-lit images of products suitable for e-commerce, social media, and print.
• Team / Portrait — Professional headshots and team photos that add a human element to the brand.

Workflow

My photography workflow borrows structure from software project management:

1. Brief — Understand the business, target audience, and where the photos will be used (website hero, SNS, print).
2. Shot List — Plan specific shots before the session. This is the photography equivalent of writing specs before writing code.
3. Shoot — Execute the shot list, plus capture candid/exploratory shots. Typically 1–3 hours per session.
4. Selection & Edit — Cull, color-correct, and retouch. Deliver in web-optimized and print-ready formats.
5. Delivery — Organized folder with named files, optimized for the agreed-upon usage (web, social, print).

The Developer's Advantage

Being a software engineer actually helps with photography work in several concrete ways:

• Image optimization — I understand web image formats (WebP, AVIF), responsive sizes, and lazy loading. Photos are delivered ready for the web, not just edited for looks.
• Batch processing — Scripted workflows for resizing, format conversion, and metadata stripping save time on large shoots.
• Color management — Understanding sRGB vs. P3 vs. print color spaces prevents the “why do my photos look different on the website?” problem.
• Integration — I can directly integrate the delivered photos into a website or landing page, handling both the creative and technical implementation.

Featured Project: 39SPA

One of my longest-running photography clients is 39SPA, a women's salon/spa. The project involved capturing interior ambiance, treatment processes, and staff portraits. These images are used across their website, Google Business Profile, and social media channels. The consistent visual identity has helped establish their online presence and attract new customers.

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