Episode 15 – Don Sparks
Don Sparks is an award winning professional photographer with over 25 years of full time experience based in Atlanta, Georgia. However to really know Don Sparks is to understand that he is far more than simply a Photographer. In fact he is just as much a lighting designer, wardrobe stylist, set builder, digital artist, and innovator? Quite honestly you could portray Don as rather a “Rockstar” of Photography. He is fun, creative and always full of energy.
Even in his tween years he loved photography. Don’s passion for Photography has roots in his early memories of printing photographs in tiny amber lit basement darkrooms. According to Don, “Other than watching the birth of my daughters there is nothing more magical than photography”.
Don’s fascination with photography continued through his teens and 20s as he earned his Kappa Tau Alpha Honor’s Degree in Photojournalism at California State University, San Jose. After college, he was hired by The National Geographic Society as their youngest Photographer/Editor in their 100+ year history.
For the past two decades Don has been operating award winning photo studios in Washington DC, Miami and Atlanta. With all of this experience there aren’t many things that Don hasn’t photographed. This range of experience gives him quite an edge on his competition. In fact, many of his clients rave how quickly Sparks works and often produces twice the content as that of the average Photographer.
Whereas many Photographers choose just one photographic specialty, Don enjoys and even excels at many. He captures people, portraits, products and events with great skill and a pinch of magic. “I thrive on creating really powerful images that truly wow my clients? my goal is to turn the ordinary into extraordinary” says Sparks.
Mike sits down with this legend of photography, and his old employer. That’s right! Mr. Mike Moreland began his career as an assistant in Don’s studio!
Today, the duo talk about the photography workshops and classes that Don instructs. He says that his specialty is boudoir and building sets for photoshoots. He loves experimenting with bold and bright colors.
In his workshops, he takes the same approach as Mike, hand-on, and very personalized. He shows the students how he runs his photoshoots and how he organized his models and props.
One tip that he gives to photographers who are new to shooting portraits and boudoir photography is that you must take control of the shoot. If you do this, and compliment them frequently, it can really bring the confidence and beauty out during the shoot.
For more information on Don Sparks or his workshops, explore some of these links!
Don’s Website Portraits Courses Next Workshop in Alpharetta, GA
