The Art
I am not a “portrait” photographer. I am not a “wedding” photographer. I am not a “commercial” photographer. I am ALL of these and much MORE. I pride myself on being able to shoot anybody (or anything) in any light; I am a chemist of natural and artificial light. Because of my overall love of photography, regardless of the subject matter, I have educated myself extensively to see light, create light, and shape light to produce beautiful works of art.
I am an award winning, published photographer, a professional musician, a graphic designer, a filmmaker, a performer, an illustrator, and a singer. I have always seen the world with an artist’s eye. Art, in some form, has been the catalyst for every challenge and adventure I have ever undertaken.
Amateur photography has been a part of my life for many years. In 2013, my creative and artistic passion, coupled with my fervor for the technical aspects of creating art out of light, brought me into the realm of professional photography.
The Person
My wife and I have been married for over 29 years. With God as our trail master, we have raised three beautiful children. All three are teens or older and are (or have been) in the performing arts in some form or fashion. When it comes to photography, my family has given me plenty of practice, patience, persistence, and encouragement. I am an active member of The Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and I currently serve as Vice President on the Board of Directors of the Professional Photographers of South Carolina (PPSC).
The Business
Artistry is critical, but there is a reason it is called a photography business. With the help of my business degree in marketing from Appalachian State University, I have owned and continue to operate one of the most successful and popular 1980s tribute bands in the country (The Breakfast Club). Online presence and social media have been a large part of that success, but the number one marketing tool I have is customer service/satisfaction and the subsequent word of mouth that inevitably follows.
I have integrated that business model into Jerry Finley Photography. There is no stronger marketing tool than a happy client.
The Clients
My photography has been featured commercially by The Greenville Symphony Orchestra, HGTV, J. Dabney Peeples Design Assoc., International Ballet, and Phoenix Senior Living. My work has appeared in Town Magazine, atHome Magazine, Upstate Parent Magazine, and The Greenville Journal, and I have donated my time and talent to charitable organizations such as Flashes of Hope and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
I have had the priviledge of capturing national recording artists, Broadway performers, film and television actors and actresses, and countless aspiring dancers, models, and performing artists. Additionally, I have worked with some of the top model and talent agencies in the Southeast, including Marilyn's Agency, Carolina Talent, and Millie Lewis. I have worked with some of the top performing arts groups in the Upstate including: International Ballet Academy & Company, Dance Converse (Converse College), Carolina Dance Conservatory, Camp Broadway (NYC), and Naina Dewan Dance Company.
The Result
Anyone can take a picture, but it takes knowledge and artistry to create an image from a moment in time that captures your life and energy. Working together, we will create such images.
