Dana Bartholomew is an award-winning photographer with a host of accolades and vast client roster to her credit, yet she’s continually honing her craft by studying the infinite ways natural and artificial light can illuminate her subjects and influence her images. She’s a lighting specialist and shoots an array of subject matter — from weddings and family portraits engagement photos and, her favorite, posing women, which allows her subjects to come out of their shells and experience newfound confidence.

“While I can shoot with natural light, I actually prefer to use artificial light in many situations, even outdoors,” Dana said. “I prefer not to beat the sun’s mercy when it comes to lighting at my portrait sessions, which also gives me the benefit of not being restricted to a certain time of day or place to hold sessions. While all photographers have preferences, utilizing artificial light gives me the ability to be more flexible with my photography and light my clients in a way that still looks very natural.

 “I strive to create memorable images, and I want my followers to see one of my images and know it is my work,” Dana continued. “I want my images to pop and be eye-catching. Since starting my business, I have been constantly training my eye to look at photographs in a whole new way. One of my biggest photography inspirations growing up was Cindy Sherman, because she liked to dress up and take crazy self-portraits of herself and in different places. I like to try new things and be spontaneous with my self-portraits also.” 

As her business continues to flourish, with 2022 being her best to date thanks in part to her very popular Ocean City Boudoir by Dana Marie Photography, Dana said she is often asked by her clients which aspect of her photography repertoire she enjoys shooting most.

“I love capturing people and helping them look and feel their best, especially women,” she said. “Our bodies change so many times over our lives, and it’s been a mission of mine to help ladies feel their best at all the different stages of life.