Dasean Mack | DMV photographer

🎓 Need Grad Photo Location Ideas? Start Here. Picking the right location can completely change how your graduation photos look. A lot of people overthink it, but some of the best spots are the ones connected to your college experience. Here are a few locations I always recommend 👇 📚 The Library — You spent years there, so it naturally tells part of your story. The bookshelves and architecture always photograph well. 🏫 Your Major Building — The place where you actually studied and spent most of your time. It adds meaning to your photos and makes them more personal. 🗿 Campus Landmarks & Statues — School gates, mascots, or recognizable spots instantly show where you graduated from and give your photos identity. Good locations don’t just look nice — they tell your story. If you know someone graduating this spring, send this to them 🎓📸 #howarduniversity #UniversityOfMaryland #collegegrad #gradphotographer #baltimorephotographer

These clients be nervous but once you show them a couple shots they gain the most confidence! - 👩🏽: @jessicanicolecc Studio sessions are available for march! Link in bio to inquire🔗 📩[email protected] #studiophotoshoot #baltimorephotographer #birthdayshoot #dmvphotographer #portraitphotographer

🌸 Spring commencement is here! Graduation is a huge milestone, and your grad photos are the perfect way to capture it. To make sure your shoot goes smooth, here are 5 tips: 1️⃣ Bring your crew – 2 to 5 friends or family who hype you up and help with poses. They can give real-time feedback, help you adjust, and make the day more fun—but too many people can distract from the photos or slow the shoot down. 2️⃣ Be on time – Plan your schedule so you arrive with plenty of time. This gives us room to try multiple poses, adjust for lighting, and capture all the shots you want without stress or rushing. 3️⃣ Practice your poses – Use your inspo board, Pinterest, or a mirror. Even practicing a few poses helps you feel confident, look natural, and know your angles so you get your best shots. 4️⃣ Know your locations – Decide on your spots ahead of time and make sure you have access. Locked doors, off-limit areas, or last-minute changes can waste time and make the day more stressful. 5️⃣ Have fun – Relax, smile, and enjoy the experience. Move naturally, laugh, and let your personality shine—it comes through in every “shot”😎. Confidence is key. 💡 Share this with someone graduating this spring! If you’re looking for a photographer to capture your big day, I’ve got open availability—let’s make it happen. #gradphotographer #bowiestateuniversity #howarduniversity #umdgrad #dmv

📸 How I Light Library Grad Photos If you want your library shots to look clean, dramatic, and not flat, here’s how I approach it 👇 💡 Main Light
Godox AD600 with a 23” softbox + grid.
The grid keeps the light directional so it only hits my subject and doesn’t spill all over the library. 💡 Back / Rim Light
Godox AD200 with a beauty dish placed behind the subject.
This adds separation and pop, which is important in libraries since there’s usually a lot of color and texture in the background. 📸 Why this works 
Directional light + separation = the subject stands out without overpowering the location. Save this if you’re shooting grads indoors this spring season or know someone who’s graduating soon😉 #bowiestateuniversity #howarduniversity #universityofmaryland #reel #explore

📢 Post Your Work. Seriously. There’s a lot of talented photographers out here who aren’t getting booked — not because they’re bad, but because nobody sees their work. If you don’t post:
• Clients don’t know you’re shooting
• They don’t know what your work looks like
• They don’t know you’re available Posting doesn’t mean dumping everything in one week and disappearing.
It means spreading your content out, showing consistency, and staying visible. Your phone is your biggest marketing tool.
Use it. If you want to get booked, you have to show people what you do. Save this & send it to a photographer who’s been quiet for too long 📸 #explorepage #explore #baltimore #baltimorephotographer #photographer

Let me show you what’s in my Pelican case 👇📸 This is the gear I keep on me when I’m out shooting — simple, reliable, and always ready to work. 📷 What I’m carrying: • Sony A7R V • Sony FX30 • Sigma 105mm f/1.4 • Sigma 85mm f/1.4 • Tamron 28–75 • Sony 50mm f/1.8 • Triggers • BTS gear Everything in here helps me stay ready for shoots, content, and behind-the-scenes at all times. Share this with a photographer who likes seeing real setups 📸 #explore #explorepage #baltimore #studiophotographer #bowie marylandphotographer bsu coppinstateuniversity csu morganstateuniversity msu msuphotographer csuphotographer bsuphotographer photographer photography gradseason howarduniversity HU MDphotographer SU gouchercollege UMD UniversityOfMaryland bowiestate morganstate coppinstate towsonuniversity gradphotographer

📸 Why I Upgraded to the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 There’s an old saying that “size matters”… and in photography, it actually does 😭 
I didn’t believe it at first either — until I started really understanding focal length, compression, and depth. Here’s why I added the 105mm f/1.4 to my kit 👇 ✅ More compression
The longer focal length gives stronger background compression, which helps your subject stand out more naturally. ✅ Cleaner separation
At f/1.4, the background melts away, giving you that smooth, creamy look without doing extra work in editing. ✅ Better distance control
The 105 lets you shoot a little farther back while still keeping tight framing, which helps with perspective and consistency. 💬 A lot of photographers put me onto this lens, and once I started using it, it really leveled up how I think about distance, depth, and portrait composition. If you’re shooting on an 85 and feel like you want just a little more separation and compression, the 105 might be the next step for you. Because in photography… size really does matter — just in a different way 📸 Save this if you’re thinking about upgrading your portrait lens. #explore #explorepage #baltimore #studiophotographer #bowie maryland marylandphotographer bsu coppinstateuniversity csu morganstateuniversity msu msuphotographer csuphotographer bsuphotographer photographer photography gradseason howarduniversity HU MDphotographer SU gouchercollege UMD UniversityOfMaryland bowiestate morganstate coppinstate towsonuniversity gradphotographer

📸 How I Stop Instagram From Killing My Photo Quality If you’ve ever uploaded to IG and your photos came out blurry or soft… it’s not you, it’s Instagram 😅 But here’s how I fix it every time: Step 1: Camera Raw Adjustments * Texture + Clarity → bump up by +5 * Grain → around 6–7 * Sharpening → around 10–11
(These small tweaks keep your photos crisp before export). Step 2: Export Settings
Instead of the regular export, use Save for Web (Legacy).
👉 Set the quality to 100% for the cleanest file possible. Step 3: Instagram Settings
Open IG → Settings → Search Media Quality → switch it ON.
This tells IG to upload your photos at the highest resolution. ⚡ After these 3 steps, your photos won’t get crushed by IG’s compression, and your work will finally look the way it should. Save this for your next export + tag a photographer who needs this 👇 #explore #explorepage #baltimore #baltimorephotographer #bowie #maryland #marylandphotographer #bsu #coppinstateuniversity #csu #morganstateuniversity #msu #msuphotographer #csuphotographer #bsuphotographer #photographer #photography #gradseason #howarduniversity #HU #MDphotographer #SU #gouchercollege #UMD #UniversityOfMaryland #bowiestate #morganstate #coppinstate #towsonuniversity #gradphotographer

🚨 The One Thing Most Business Owners Forget Whether you’re a photographer, hairstylist, or sell products — this applies to you.
 It’s not just about skill. It’s about how you treat your clients. ✅ Customer Service Matters.
Be kind. Be professional. Be clear.
The smallest details — how you speak, respond, or deliver — can make or break your reputation. 💬 One great client experience can turn your business from good ➝ great.
And one bad experience? It can do the exact opposite. 📝 Protect your business with clear policies.
Post them on your website, booking site, or IG highlights so clients know exactly what to expect. 
The more transparent you are, the fewer problems you’ll have down the line. Treat your clients like family — because great service is good marketing. Save this for later + tag a business owner who needs this reminder 💯 #explore #explorepage #baltimore #baltimorephotographer #bowie #maryland #marylandphotographer #bsu #coppinstateuniversity #csu #morganstateuniversity #msu #msuphotographer #csuphotographer #bsuphotographer #photographer #photography #gradseason #howarduniversity #HU #MDphotographer #SU #gouchercollege #UMD #UniversityOfMaryland #bowiestate #morganstate #coppinstate #towsonuniversity #gradphotographer

🍾 How to Get the Perfect Champagne Spray for Photos Champagne takes your photoshoot from regular ➝ unforgettable in seconds. But the truth is… most people don’t actually know how to shake it the right way. Here’s how to nail it every time 👇 1️⃣ Open the Bottle – simple, but don’t skip the setup. 
2️⃣ Thumb Placement – rest your thumb just over the opening (not jammed inside). This gives you control over the spray. 
3️⃣ Shake AWAY From You – biggest mistake people make is shaking toward themselves (instant sticky mess). Shake outward to get that clean spray. 
4️⃣ Look at the Photographer – even with champagne flying, keep your eyes up. That’s how we capture those hype, joyful reactions that make the photo feel alive. 📸 Do all of this right, and you’ll get those premium “celebration vibes” shots that everyone loves. Save this for your next grad shoot & tag a friend who needs champagne photos in their session 🍾✨ #explore #explorepage #baltimore #baltimorephotographer #bowie #maryland #marylandphotographer #bsu #coppinstateuniversity #csu #morganstateuniversity #msu #msuphotographer #csuphotographer #bsuphotographer #photographer #photography #gradseason #howarduniversity #HU #MDphotographer #SU #gouchercollege #UMD #UniversityOfMaryland #bowiestate #morganstate #coppinstate #towsonuniversity #gradphotographer

📸 Why I Always Give Direction When I Shoot Most people aren’t models — they don’t know where to put their hands, how to stand, or what angle works best. That’s where I step in 👇 1️⃣ Confidence — direction takes away the guessing game. When clients know exactly what to do, they feel relaxed instead of stiff. 2️⃣ Flow — constant guidance keeps the energy moving, so there’s no awkward pauses and we capture more natural expressions. 3️⃣ Details Matter — a slight turn of the chin, fixing posture, or adjusting hands can be the difference between an “okay” photo and a scroll-stopper. As photographers, we see things our clients can’t see through the lens. Giving direction isn’t about control — it’s about bringing out their best version on camera. That’s how you go from “just pictures” ➝ to images that feel confident, polished, and unforgettable. #explore #explorepage #baltimore #baltimorephotographer #bowie #maryland #marylandphotographer #bsu #coppinstateuniversity #csu #morganstateuniversity #msu #msuphotographer #csuphotographer #bsuphotographer #photographer #photography #gradseason #howarduniversity #HU #MDphotographer #SU #gouchercollege #UMD #UniversityOfMaryland #bowiestate #morganstate #coppinstate #towsonuniversity #gradphotographer

✨ How I Shoot With a Mylar Roll ✨ Ever wonder how to get those reflective, futuristic studio shots? Here’s the exact setup I use ⬇️ 🪞 The Mylar Roll This is the star of the look. It creates those mirror-like reflections you see on the subject + background. The shinier the roll, the more dramatic the effect. 💡 Constant Lights (Not Strobes) Strobes won’t give you the same shine — constant light lets the Mylar reflect properly. I keep mine on low power so the backdrop doesn’t blow out:     •    Main light = ~24%     •    Back light = ~10% (aimed at the roll for that glowing background effect). 🎨 Backdrop Choice I used a tan backdrop here, but the color matters. Pick something that contrasts your subject so they stand out while the reflections dance around them. 👕 Wardrobe Tip Don’t wear clothes that blend into the backdrop. You want contrast to keep your subject sharp against the reflective effect. 📸 The Result With the Mylar roll, low-power constant lights, and a good backdrop color, you’ll get futuristic, reflective portraits that instantly set your work apart. Save this setup & share it with a creative who needs to try something new 👇 #explore #explorepage #baltimore #baltimorephotographer #bowie #maryland #marylandphotographer #bsu #coppinstateuniversity #csu #morganstateuniversity #msu #msuphotographer #csuphotographer #bsuphotographer #photographer #photography #gradseason #howarduniversity #HU #MDphotographer #SU #gouchercollege #UMD #UniversityOfMaryland #bowiestate #morganstate #coppinstate #towsonuniversity #gradphotographer