Meet Matt Dunn of Matt Dunn Photography

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Dunn.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
“I believe in the power of the photo’s magic, the ability to touch the soul with light and shadow; to excite through color and balance”. “Through the eye of a photographer a glance becomes a romance, wind becomes a dancer when introduced to fabric, and motion is stopped in a heightened sense with the click of a shutter”. “I strive for that split-second magic that happens when motion, mood and mystery by come together to form powerful color, and black & white photographs”. “The many forces within my life have influenced my vision”.”

From the early images I grew up seeing by Avedon and Skrebneski, my time living in Paris and New York, the friends I adore from Milan to L.A., and the compelling memories of Miami Beach; all have shaped me in quite an indescribable way”. “I enjoy the challenge of creating modern images, powerful visual stories that speak effectively of life and the many ways we live it”.” Art, images, visual; it’s all is like water to me”. “I need it to survive”. “Through the years I’ve taken many timely images which have become timeless of women, movie-stars, and personalities.”

“I have photographed campaigns that I have charged tens of thousands of dollars for and I have captured images that I have charged nothing for”. “I love what I do for a living and direct that passion toward your project”.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Being a photographer who started with film back in the late 1980’s much has changed. I became a master of my profession first with film and then later transitioned into digital in 2001. I am self taught in all aspects of this visual art and had to be since if once passes off part of the processes to someone else many time your vision could be lost or misdirected. Therefore I also do all of my own RAW conversions as well as all of the retouching on most of my projects.

The largest obstacle all true photographers have to deal with is the notion that just because someone has a digital camera (including phones) that doesn’t make them a photographer. Matter of fact I generally tell people it doesn’t matter how close I’m standing to a hospital or how sharp the knife is I’m holding it doesn’t make me a surgeon and you don’t want me operating on you. There is a general lack of respect for photographers and more so a lack of respect for the photography medium.

Since everyone who has a phone has a way of clicking off a photo with little understanding or care. Since it is digital it is like air. I hate the lack of tangibility in photography and it just adds to this throw away society where nothing is sacred. Real photographers that I have known are collectors and have an inherent love and respect for what they collect.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Matt Dunn Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
This is an excerpt from a article that was done on me in Los Angeles:

“If I could say anything to people who need my product for their careers,” explained Matt Dunn, “I would probably say, ‘Your face matters and it was a gift given to you by God? You particularly as an individual are a miracle of his creation. Your face is an incredible miracle that needs the clarity, a way to differentiate you from someone else. I’m trying not to sound arrogant in all of this but it really comes down to, I am a powerful communicator with when it comes to a person’s face. I can see their magic, their potential. I know how to put it on a piece of paper so that an audience “sees their magic.” This is why many people I photograph continue to say I am the first photographer who really saw the real them.

“To actors and models, stop playing with fire,” Matt continued. “These are your careers. Don’t let five years of your life go by with mediocrity as your tool.” And Matt knows actors and models, having worked with many A-list actors in Hollywood and New York City supermodels along a career that has spanned more than 2 and a half decades.

Matt directs the subjects though his double doors on his studio “set” with ease. One might think a photo shoot would center on one subject, but in Matt’s style, anywhere from five to eight actors and other professionals are working. There’s spectacular group camaraderie and sometimes a diva with attitude, as is true with any Hollywood set—and this gives a reality to the experience. More importantly, the group shoot takes the pressure off any one individual and affords plenty of time for wardrobe changes, makeup touch-ups, and new hairstyles (some women go into up-do’s, while men may shave off their 5 o’clock shadows after doing some more rugged looking shots).

In the true spirit of community service, Matt wants to make sure parents have a good, current photo of their children should they need it in a time of crisis. “I feel so strongly about it. Any child under the age of five on the planet to come visit with us for 15 or 20 minutes and we will shoot them for free, and we do that in support of Amber Alerts,” said Matt. “We hope that nobody ever needs to use my picture for that purpose, but I do know, however, when I see the children who have been abducted, and their pictures on television,” he continued, explaining that often the photos available to the media during Amber Alerts are outdated.

“But what I love giving back to the community of actors and models, or people who need to have headshots for the purpose of career—what I enjoy so much about it is the glow in their faces when they see themselves on film through my camera,” exclaims Matt. It’s exciting to see that you’ve really touched someone’s heart about who they are, and I think if I have appreciated and learned anything, it’s that everybody really does have a unique gift, and I’m able to, through the camera, not let an audience see the photography side of it, but more importantly see the person who’s being photographed.”

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I created my own luck with hard work. That’s not to say that opportunity didn’t intersect with preparation. I just made sure to prepare myself as best I could for when I would get my shot(pun intended!). This is why I work with young talent all of the time and have been on the Board of Advisors for the Fort Lauderdale Art Institute for a decade.

Contact Info:

• Address: 133 NE 2nd Avenue
  Studio 1208 Miami FL 33132
• Website: http://www.mattdunn.com
• Phone: (954)529-1390
• Email: matt@mattdunn.com
• Instagram: mattdunnphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattdunnphoto/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattDunnPhoto
• Other: http://myfortlauderdaleweddingphotographer.com/

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