Professional Aviation Photographer In Dayton Ohio

After a year of working with the great people at the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, I was able to get on base to photograph the C-17 Globemaster III. We worked around their “locals” schedule to ensure I would get to photograph at least one takeoff from the west side of the runway. Our plan worked perfectly as there were several C-17 aircraft were parked on the tarmac. Just before the top of the hour, one of the C-17s taxied to the south end of the runway. A few minutes later, this giant transport plane lifted off directly in front of me. This was an awesome experience!

I had the opportunity in May 2021 to photograph this amazing Embraer Praetor 500 business jet at a local airport. I had one hour with the aircraft and photographed every aspect of the inside and outside of this beautiful aircraft. I am absolutely in love with this airplane and its features. By far, the coolest part of the airplane was the high-tech cockpit. As always, for private aircraft, I have not included the tail number in any of my photos.

A while ago I took an hour to photograph an engagement session with a great couple and some of my favorite aircraft at the National Museum Of The United States Air Force.  I enjoy shooting some of the USA’s mightiest fighters and bombers. I also enjoy engagement photography. What better things to put together?

On a warm April evening, I met this aviation enthusiast-engaged couple at the Piqua Airport north of Dayton. It is my 230th engagement session, and it is my first-ever airport engagement session. I have shot aviation-themed engagement photos inside and outside the National Museum Of The U.S. Air Force but never at an airport. The groom flies a Beechcraft Sundowner airplane, so we did the engagement photos with the aircraft. We spent 2 hours creating these aviation engagement photos using the taxiway, runway, hangar, and airplane.. This was one of my favorite engagement sessions ever, as I love photographing couples and I love photographing airplanes.

On August 30, 2020, I was able to capture Midwest Helicopter Airways lifting large air conditioning units atop the Dayton Arcade. The lift started around 7:45 am and lasted about an hour. It was amazing, loud, and windy. This really old heavy lift helicopter made several trips between an empty lot and the top of the 9-building complex in downtown Dayton Ohio.

Since I was little I have been traveling out of Dayton International Airport near Vandalia, Ohio. I’ve always been fascinated by airports and aviation. Last night, after a year of working to get permission, I got to combine my love of aviation with my photography business. On November 19, 2019, I legally photographed the Dayton International Airport (DAY)! I am separating my airport photos into four blog posts. This post features some of the less prominent aspects of the airport exterior.

The Memphis Belle exhibit at the National Museum Of The United States Air Force is now open in Dayton, Ohio. This historic Boeing B-17 bomber from WWII is set atop 3 steel pylons and is lit with beautiful theatrical lighting.

The Memphis Belle exhibit at the National Museum Of The United States Air Force is now open in Dayton, Ohio. This historic Boeing B-17 bomber from WWII is set atop 3 steel pylons and is lit with beautiful theatrical lighting. During day two, several WWII era aircraft landed at the Air Force Museum runway, and we were treated to numerous fly-overs by the plane commonly known as “Air Force One.” The President was not aboard, so this reverted to being just a Boeing 747 VC-25 (which was awesome to see flying over the museum)

Two B-17 Flying Fortresses, five P-51 Mustangs, and the movie version of the Memphis Belle rumbled over the National Museum of The United States Air Force just before 11 am on May 16, 2017. The planes came from the north-east and flew south-west directly over the Air Force Museum. I had the opportunity to photograph these beautiful WWII aircraft, and it was awesome!

The B-17F Memphis Belle arrived at the National Museum Of The United States Air Force in 2005. Shortly after it entered restoration at the museum’s restoration hangar, I had the opportunity to walk through and photograph the airplane while it was in pieces. Then in 2017, I was able to photograph the rear turret installation also in the restoration hangar. Today, March 14, 2018, I had the awesome opportunity to photograph the Memphis Belle as she was rolled to her final resting place inside the World War II gallery in building one at the museum. The process included a photo op with the airplane known as Shoo Shoo Baby which is destined for the Smithsonian Institution.