Capturing Special Memories

Expert Professional Photography Specializing in Family, High School Senior Portraits, Corporate and Fine Art Photography

Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography specializes in capturing the moments that matter most. A dedicated photographer in Dayton, Ohio who brings his creativity, professionalism, and passion to every session.

Call For More Information 937-298-6776

Dan Will Quickly Answer All Your Questions
Fireplace with family portrait by Cleary Creative Photography

Call For More Information 937-298-6776

Dan Can Quickly Answer All Your Questions

Dan Cleary is an exceptional professional portrait photographer with a remarkable talent for capturing the essence and beauty of his subjects. With his extensive expertise and creative portrait photography approach, he produces stunning and captivating photographs that leave a lasting impression. If you want to preserve your memories in a truly remarkable way, Dan Cleary is the photographer you need.

 

Call For More Information 937-298-6776

Dan Can Quickly Answer All Your Questions

Since 1988, Cleary Creative Photography has been capturing the essence of life's precious moments in Dayton, Ohio. Skilled photographer Dan Cleary brings years of experience, creativity, and passion to every session, ensuring each portrait is a timeless masterpiece. Whether you're seeking family portraits that capture the joy of your bond, high school senior portraits that reflect your individuality, or professional headshots that exude confidence, Cleary Creative Photography is your trusted source for capturing the essence of your unique story.

Dan is a Certified Professional Photographer as designated from the Professional Photographers of America, the leading association of imaging professionals. He also has a Master of Fine Arts from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills Michigan.

The Dayton City Commission recognized Dan as a Proud Dayton Original. The Commission initiated this award as a nod to Dayton’s long history of invention, innovation and inspiration. Recognition is based on creative thinking, doing, believing and achieving. This honor emphasizes Dan’s creativity and originality.

Dayton Originals logo

 

Wright Brothers: Then and Now

This book makes a great gift. Click to order signed copies of the book directly!

Dan Cleary has published a book that mingles historic photos of the Wright Brothers at the turn-of-the 20th century with contemporary images of his creation taken in the 21st century.

"Dan's images represent moving back in time while standing in the present day. This historical, engaging project is filled with images from both the past and the present." Lens Culture Review

"Ingenious photography project that transports the Wright Brothers to the present day." Plane and Pilot Magazine

"Dan Cleary has been a time traveler"  Washingtonian Magazine

Call For More Information 937-298-6776

Dan Can Quickly Answer All Your Questions

Family Portraits

“I want to say that Mr. Cleary was a doll, he was very understanding about my requests and the fact I did not have all the things I needed for the sitting, he was fine with that so I would like to thank him for his time, not to mention the beautiful pictures he took of my family, children and grand kids. He is truly a professional portrait photographer and again thank you.”
Judy McCullah, Dayton, Ohio

High School Senior Portraits

“Mr. Cleary, you did a wonderful job with my daughter Alexa' high school senior portraits. She was absolutely at ease and totally enjoyed her shoot. You went over and above the call of duty. I will be telling everyone about your services for the photos, they are absolutely gorgeous. The price of the photos is much more reasonable than any other I have encountered. I do want to thank you again and plan on using your services again in the future.”
Sandy DeHaven, Dayton, Ohio

Business Photography

"It's a major endeavor to redesign a business website and especially challenging when it's for a law firm with hundreds of lawyers. We selected Dan because of his experience, photographic style and attention to detail. Dan did an excellent job on the photographs and in managing the project to completion."

Ellen Geron, Regional Growth Manager, Thompson Hine LLP

 

 

Fine Art Photography

"Thanks for all your help with the Kettering Health facilities projects. The photographs look great on the walls."

Lisa Laverty

The Art Company

 

 

high school senior girl photographed by Great Miami river by Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
Photograph of Downtown Dayton at Night by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography Dayton Ohio
business headshot portrait by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography Dayton Ohio
sunrise at cormfield Miami county Ohio by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
Outdoor family portrait by a river with their dogs by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
close up portrait of Mom and Dad holding baby by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
portrait of young family at a park by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
portrait of High School senior boy in dugout with baseball glove by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio

Latest Blog Posts

2022 Photography, Wright Brothers and Cyber Monday

Thanksgiving is over, and the Christmas season is upon us and, like many of us, I also have two family Thanksgiving Dinners to attend on different days. I am very thankful for another great year at Cleary Creative Photography. I’ve met many new clients and heard from many existing clients I have worked with in years past. For those who don’t know, I published my book Wright Brothers: Then and Now and have sold copies all over the country. I am doing more artwork that people and companies have hanging in their homes and offices. I did one public art project for the Burkhardt branch of the Montgomery County public libraries. I’ve worked with numerous companies creating photographs of their employees—my usual number of high school seniors, babies, and family portraits. I even received a phone call at 4 pm on a Sunday from an organization asking if I could take photographs at their once-a-year black-tie event because their scheduled photographer had an emergency. I was onsite by 4:45, ready and creating photographs.

10% Off and Free Shipping For A Week!

Wright Brothers- Then and Now Book cover

I started working on my photography project about the Wright Brothers six years ago. Among all their many talents, they did their photography and had a darkroom at their house. This series involves me taking historical photographs by and of the Wright Brothers and then going back to those same locations to create another photograph that I can layer with the historic photo. I’ve done many public talks about the series, and the first talk was at the Oakwood library, someone asked when the book would come out. That was three years ago, and about a year ago, I finished and published the book Wright Brothers: Then and now. The book and prints from the series are available from my website: ClearyFineArtPhoto.com. If you have someone on your Christmas list interested in aviation and American history, this would be perfect for them. You can buy the book from Amazon, but copies purchased directly from my website are signed and can be personalized. On Saturday, December 3rd, I will be in Indianapolis at the 2022 Holiday Author Fair at the Indiana Historical Society, signing copies of my book. Click here for more information,  Indianahistory.org. I am offering a 10% coupon with free shipping for everything on my website this week. Just enter 10% in the coupon section on the shopping cart.

My wife Maria retired from teaching last year, so we decided to add outdoor art fairs to Cleary Creative Photography. Art fairs are juried; not everyone is asked to show their art work at each city. We went to the Cincinnati Summer art show, Talbot Street art fair in Indianapolis, Ann Arbor, Kettering Art On The Commons, Dayton Art Institute Octoberfest, and Ohio Mart in Akron. I also have images from local small towns in Ohio, like Tipp City, Troy, Piqua, Springboro, and Kettering. You can order prints from all these places directly from my website under the landscape photography section. Remember, I am offering a 10% coupon with free shipping for everything on my website this week. Just enter 10% in the coupon section on the shopping cart.

Lions Outside The Dayton Arcade
The Hulman Building

Late Fall Outdoor Family Portraits

Late fall Family outdoor portrait with dogs by Dan Cleary
Fall family outdoor portrait by Dan Cleary

You might think it’s too late in the year to create an outdoor family portrait. The leaves are down. It’s getting colder outside. But it’s not too late for your family to get together for a family portrait. The holidays are a time when all the family gets together. There is no better time to have a portrait created by me, Dan Cleary. I have worked with families for many years and at various times of the year. Yes, everyone is in short sleeves in the summer, and it’s 80 degrees. But I can create a great family portrait right now. I have a coat and gloves. I don’t mind being outside this time of the year. Plus, I can go to your house and do a family portrait in your living room. We can even come to my portrait studio.

You can see more examples of family portraits I have created at ClearyCreativePhoto.com/family-portrait-photographer. For people interested in learning more about their digital cameras and taking better pictures themselves, go to ClearyPhotoWorkshops.com. I create photographic art for individuals and companies. I’ve also published a book Wright Brothers: Then and Now. You can see more of my artwork at ClearyFineArtPhoto.com.

Fall family portrait in Cox Arboretum by Dan Cleary
fall outdoor family portriat with your children by Dan Cleary

Outdoor Fall Studio

Group company photograph outdoors in the fall by Dan Cleary

As a professional photographer in Dayton, Ohio, I get asked to do many things in many locations. This week in Dayton is the peak of the fall color season. I was scheduled to create business headshots for a company of about 25 people, plus a group photograph to be used on the company website. We had talked and had planned to do the headshots at an onsite portrait studio that I was going to bring and do the group photograph outdoors. When I arrived, the client asked if we could do both the group photographs and headshots outdoors. I said yes, and instead of setting up a studio indoors, I set up an outdoor studio. One of the main issues working outdoors is trying to coordinate my lighting with the sun that kept going in and out of the clouds. Not to mention that on Tuesday and Wednesday, the temperature was in the 40s. Ultimately, I photographed all the employees and the group outdoors, just like the client wanted. Luckily, it only rained and sleeted once for just a few minutes.

outdoor business portrait of a woman by Dan Cleary
outdoor business portrait of man by Dan Cleary

Dan Cleary is a professional photographer in Dayton, Ohio. You can see examples of his pictures taken for other businesses at ClearyCreativePhotography.com/BusinessPhotography. Dan is also a fine art photographer and creates photographs that many companies and individuals display in their homes. You can see a portfolio of his work at ClearyFineArtPhoto.com. Dan is also the author of the book Wright Brothers: Then and Now. You can see samples of the photographs from this series at ClearyFineArtPhoto.com/Wright-Brothers-Photographs. You can see the book at ClearyFineArtPhoto.com/WrightBrothersBook.  

Dan also teaches a class The Seven Steps To Better Photography. You can read more about the class at ClearyPhotoWorkshops.com

Burkhardt Library Art For Wright Brothers Display

Burkhardt Library finished public art by Dan Cleary
Finished Image For Wright Brothers Display At Burkhardt Library

The Dayton Montgomery County libraries are finishing a multi-year reconstruction of all their buildings. The latest building to be completed is the Burkhardt Branch in east Dayton. This building is close to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and in the building, they have a children’s display of the Wright B Flyer. I was asked to create a piece of wall art to go behind the flyer. The library people knew I had made a series of photographs using historic Wright Brothers photos and asked me to create something showing the Wright Brothers flying at Huffman Prairie. I then showed an Air Force C-17 Globemaster, stationed at the base, passing through the air. And, at the top of the image, they wanted a rocket taking off into space.

Original Idea For Art Work On Display

I had the historical Wright Brothers photograph and created a new image at Huffman Prairie at the bottom. I layered these two images together. The C-17 aircraft stationed at Wright Patt flight path takes them directly over Huffman Prairie. Because Wright Patt wouldn’t tell me exactly when the planes would take off, I had to try and figure out when was t good time to be there to capture the next picture. Luckily, the cloud formation worked well with the bottom image, working together seamlessly.

Finished Wright Brothers Display At Burkhardt Library

I researched the NASAs website and found a clear photograph of a rocket taking off in March 2022. I emailed NASA and asked if I had permission to use this picture in my project. They said yes, I could use the photograph of the rocket taking off. I had the stars picture in my system and placed the rocket taking off on top of the stars to finish the whole image. The library was pleased with the result and was ready for the public opening on August 10th.

Call For More Information 937-298-6776

Dan Can Quickly Answer All Your Questions