Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Poole.
Hi Gary, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I began my photography career in 1977 by opening a portrait and wedding studio in Douglas, Georgia. By 1988, after photographing countless weddings, I realized my true passion lay in the production side of photography. I had the opportunity to join Burrell Colour Lab in Crown Point, Indiana, where I specialized in portrait production, color evaluation and correction, and quality control for professional studios nationwide.
In 1991, after three long years of short summers and harsh winters, my family and I relocated to Columbus, Georgia, where I managed the Custom Portrait and Wedding Division at Garrett and Lane Color Lab for nearly twenty years.
In 2010, recognizing the growing demand for remote digital editing, I launched YourBestColor.com, an online editing service for professional photographers. The company was acquired in 2012 by a Utah-based editing firm, where I continued to lead color editing, train artists, manage sales and client relations, and represent the company at national and international trade shows.
In 2021, I accepted a position managing production and quality control for a portrait studio group in the New York City, New Jersey area. Then, in 2024, I began developing Masterpiece Photo Services, a premium photo service designed to cater to the growing market of clients who receive digital files with copyright release. My goal is to offer them the same high-end products and craftsmanship traditionally available only through professional studios.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey has definitely been a rollercoaster ride. I’ve always been one of those people who can’t stop looking for a better way to get things done. Back in 2008, I began envisioning an independent color-editing service specifically for professional photographers. I was convinced it was the right idea at the right time — for just 35 cents per image, photographers could get professional color and exposure correction, spend less on prints, and keep thousands more in profit each year.
Since the concept directly competed with my current job, I made the difficult decision to resign from my position as Production and Quality Control Manager to launch the new web-based service. After four or five weeks of door-to-door visits and hundreds of cold calls, I came to a painful realization: my perfect plan had one fatal flaw — I’ve learned that people naturally resist change, no matter how much it might benefit them.
As the dream unraveled, the stress began to take a toll. My thyroid became dangerously overactive, I was sleeping only two or three hours a night, and I lost forty pounds in just a few weeks. The exhaustion was crippling, and I watched myself go from strong and confident to barely able to hold a conversation. Eventually, the company decided to let me go. I was sick, unemployed, and unsure what came next.
Thankfully, with medical care — and the support of friends, family, and my church — I slowly recovered. About two months later, I got a call from a well-known photo industry influencer who had heard about my situation. He asked how he could help. When I told him about my failed business idea, he agreed it had significant potential, so he jumped right in — creating a new name, designing a logo, and promoting my service on his international platform, ShootSmarter.com. I also began writing online articles for his website about achieving accurate color in digital photography, which helped bring visibility and momentum to the business.
Before long, things began to turn around. In January 2012, one of my clients attended the Professional Photographers of America convention in New Orleans and mentioned to a large Utah-based editing company that my service was saving him thousands of dollars each year. Within days, their CEO called me. After a few conversations and some negotiation, they purchased my company and brought me on board to scale the system for their tens of thousands of customers worldwide.
It was an ending far better than I ever expected — and the beginning of a new chapter. I stayed with the company for nearly a decade and only stepped down when travel became too difficult for health reasons. We still keep in touch today, and our mutual respect remains as strong as ever.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
From the moment I watched my first black-and-white image appear in the darkroom tray, I was hooked. The magic, the science, and the art of photography captivated me instantly — and that fascination has never left. Over the years, as my skills and understanding deepened, I realized that my true passion lies not just in taking photographs, but in the creative part of editing and enhancing them to make a mediocre image good, and a good image great.
When I’m behind the camera, I always try to visualize the finished image before I press the shutter. I learned this principle of “pre-visualization” from reading many books by Ansel Adams, whose writings deeply influenced me. That mindset guides every choice I make — composition, lens, exposure, and viewpoint — all serving the vision I’ve already imagined.
But capture is only half the story. Once the images are taken, the creative process truly begins. I often shoot bracketed exposures (HDR) to capture a full tonal range, then blend each image, pulling the best tones from each image then refining and balancing the results in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. I love the artistry of digital editing — how small, calculated adjustments can greatly improve an image without compromising its integrity. With today’s AI tools, the possibilities seem endless, but I believe we must move forward in this area with both excitement and thoughtful caution.
When I work on client images, my goal is always subtle enhancement — never deception. I look for small distractions that might not stand out at first but can become noticeable over time: a sagging belt, an untucked shirt, under-eye shadows from a sleepless night, or the obvious traces of “too many birthdays.” These details can be refined without altering a person’s true character.
We’ve all seen those overworked images where the subject no longer looks real — that’s the trap I avoid. My aim is simple: to create the best version of each person while keeping them authentic and recognizable. That balance between truth and beauty — that’s where I believe my many years in the trenches of photo production pay off.
What matters most to you?
My goal has always been simple: to make my clients genuinely happy with their images by making thoughtful refinements that create a lasting, positive impression.
In my fine art photography, I strive to capture familiar places in uncommon ways — to reveal something fresh and unexpected in scenes people think they already know. While I enjoy photographing people, my creative spirit truly comes alive when I’m interpreting a landscape or landmark through my own perspective.
If someone were to say, “That looks like a postcard, I’d consider it a failed image. I want people to stop, look, and feel something — to say, “Wow, that’s a beautiful photograph. I’d love to showcase that in my office (or home).”
Ultimately, I hope my work brings joy to others and that, long after I’m gone, I’ll be remembered as someone who had an eye for the unique and a heart that cared deeply for people. I love meeting fellow creatives, encouraging and inspiring them and sharing our passions and dreams — because without dreams or goals, we don’t truly live; we merely exist.
Pricing:
- Custom wedding albums from $349.00
- Complete Digital Photo Restoration $80.00 regardless of damage
- Original Fine Art Prints from $5.00
- Portraits made from Pro galleries ( with release) from 12.50 including facial retouch
- Digital Oil Portraits by quote
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.garypoolemps.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gary.poole.186/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gary.poole.186
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-poole-a0a22930/
- Twitter: none
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@garypoole2025
Image Credits
Photo of Gary by: Alexander von Kleydorff
