Ray Hathorn has been documenting the lives of families from around the South since he began his photography career over thirty years ago. He specializes in natural light environmental portraiture both indoors and outdoors. He now focuses primarily on beach portraiture serving clients from around the world that have been attracted to the sugar white beaches on the Emerald Coast. The natural beauty of the area is the ideal backdrop for capturing the true spirit of his subjects.

   Ray trained under one the nation's top portraiture artists, the late Leon Kennamer and had the opportunity to travel with him while he taught his natural-light portrait system across the country. Ray continues the tradition with his private professional photography classes that are held throughout the year.  In his spare time, Ray can be found combing the area beaches capturing Florida’s natural beauty. Several of his images have been chosen for features in magazines and tourist brochures promoting the area.

   Leslie Hathorn, the other half of this husband and wife team, has a Master's Degree in fine art and serves as creative designer and business manager. She assists Ray with the beach sessions and even finds time to pick up the camera herself.
Leslie is able to combine her talent in drawing and painting with that of digital re-touching that produces amazing results. Our beach portraits are each hand re-touched and enhanced with the flair of her digital pen. Her favorite art medium outside the photography world is acrylics and watercolors. Her art carries a coastal theme that comes from her love of the area and its magical colors.

   Leslie and Ray live in a resort in Destin and love traveling to beaches and homes on the Emerald Coast and beyond. Their combined talents and love of photography will leave you with a timeless portrait your family will treasure for generations.

   We invite you to contact us about scheduling a beach portrait session for family, group or graduating senior.

Meet the Staff (who we really are!)

Ray
Photo Guru - (he is the real talent…he cut his teeth on film and f-stops)
Teacher - (photographer and seeing light is his passion and he loves to share)
Creative Director - (can find light when I’m convinced there is none)
Technical camera guru - (has boxes of cables and camera stuff to prove it…just in case we need it)
Studio Organizer - (always knows where the keys are and where that client file is)
Photo Editor and Executive Producer - (uses Lightroom, Photoshop,  Adobe Bridge to organize and edit thousand of images a week…and gets them online for you to see)
Comic Relief - (he always make me laugh)
Laundryman - (yes, he actually does all the wash)

Leslie
Re-toucher - (the Biggie…she can take off 20 pounds and 10 years in seconds)
Weatherman (girl) - (keeps an eye on it hourly-quotes wind speeds and sunset times)
Entertainment Director - (can be seen wearing crazy things on her head or dancing …she can’t dance… to get kids attention or in most cases their laughs)
The Bank - (no former accounting experience but, tries to keep the bills paid)
Professional Wing Man (girl) – (Keeps Ray’s game tight or at least tries to)
Top Chef - (they really eat out a lot, but she makes a mean dessert)
Travel Director - (can find your condo or house and Disney World without GPS)
Chief Shopper - (knows where the deals are in Destin and beyond)

”Capturing Fine Art Portraits Beyond the Souvenir.”

Preserve Your Family Heritage - Invest in Photographic Art