My Story
ABOUT
I left my sales career in 2015 and took a trip to Tokyo. I bought a camera, and I have never stopped taking pictures from that moment. I lived and Studied in Tucson, Los Angelos, Austin, Fukuoka (Japan), Ciudad Obregon (Mexico), and Melbourne (Australia). These experiences plus being a father have shaped me into the man I am today. I have a degree from the University of Arizona, but I learned most of my photography skills through on the job experience. I take a ton of images each time out, because I believe that the only bad picture you take, is the one you don’t.
I shoot on the newest Sony equipment, but my camera is only a tool and it is not directly responsible for the quality of my images. I always say “make your decision based on the person, not the equiptment”.
My style is always evolving and (hopefully) improving. I love the look of natural light, and I prefer to use off camera flash to help enhance that look and bring out the existing colors and skin tones. I always make a point not to over edit my photos and I am always searching for the perfect balance to make the image “pop”.
COLLABORATORS
MARCEL WILSON — Marcel has been shooting Portraits for five years and he has an eye for fashion photography and weddings. He is one of Cleveland’s rising stars and has over 10,000 instagram followers.
KYLE DAVIDSON — Kyle is our newest photographer and has a passion for family and senior portraiture. He has a natural eye for emotion and you can often find him shooting at weddings and looking for that memorable laugh, or that tear coming down Mom’s cheak during the ceramony.
MOLLY NOOK— Molly is quite possibly the best portrait photographer in Cleveland. She specializes in natural light and has been a major influence for me. Molly has over 20 years of professional experience and it shows in her work.
Testimonials
"We hired Cody to shoot at our bridal shower so we could capture every moment! It was the best decision we ever made." — Ashley Mack Tomaro
"Charles is great at scouting shooting locations. He will do what it takes to get the shot you want. We will definitely be using him again.. " — Nicole Schumann Riffle
"Cody has a natural eye for capturing beauty in every shot. He is so patient and easy to work with....especially with the kiddos." — Melissa Davis Cole
"Its important to go with your gut when you chose your photographer. We were so pleased with Charles Dakota Photography. Wanted something creative and a little out of the box and boy did he deliver. He listened to our ideas and ran with them. He is talented and skilled in his craft, put our minds at ease and delivered a one-of -a kind senior portrait session. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. Will definitely hire him again for future photo shoots!" — Allison Wouters