Professional Photographer In Dayton, Ohio
Dan at Cleary Creative Photography, provides professional photography that brings your vision to life. A dedicated photographer serving Dayton, Ohio and surrounding areas for 35+ Years
Call For More Information 937-298-6776
Dan Will Quickly Answer All Your Questions
How Dan Cleary Will Help You With His Creative Photography Skills
Customized Photoshoots: Dan Cleary offers personalized photoshoots tailored to the needs and preferences of each client.
Creative Direction: With his expertise in photography, Dan Cleary provides creative direction to clients, helping them conceptualize and execute their photo projects.
Technical Expertise: As a professional photographer, Dan Cleary has a deep understanding of camera equipment, lighting techniques, composition, and post-processing.
Artistic Vision: Dan Cleary brings his creative vision to each personal and commissioned project. He offers a unique perspective and style that sets his work apart and adds value to the final product.
Personal Branding: For clients needing professional headshots and branding images, Dan Cleary helps them present themselves or their businesses in the best possible light.
Photography Workshops and Classes: As an experienced photographer, Dan Clear offers workshops and one-on-one training sessions to help clients improve their photography skills.
Fine Art Prints For Collectors: Dan Cleary creates fine art prints of his artwork for clients who appreciate high-quality, artistic photography and wish to add it to their collections.
Make a powerful first impression with a polished headshot. We provide professional headshot photography in Dayton for business owners, corporate teams, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Our sessions are designed to put you at ease so your confidence and personality shine through in your portrait. Need a clean studio headshot for your LinkedIn profile or company website? How about an environmental portrait at your office? In either case, we’ve got you covered. Your Dayton headshot photographer will ensure lighting, pose, and background all come together for a result that conveys professionalism and approachability. Elevate your brand with a crisp, well-crafted headshot that stands out.
Dan loves working with families to create stunning portraits celebrating your unique bond. Whether you prefer an outdoor session at a scenic Dayton park or a classic portrait in our studio, we’ll ensure a relaxed experience that brings genuine smiles and interactions. As an experienced Dayton family photographer, Dan knows how to capture your family’s love, laughter, and personality in every shot. From multigenerational family photos to candid kids’ portraits, we deliver high-quality images you’ll proudly display and share.
Celebrate your senior year with a one-of-a-kind photo shoot! We create fun, memorable high school senior portraits for students in Dayton and the surrounding area. Dan works closely with seniors and their parents to plan a session that reflects your style – from urban backdrops downtown to natural settings like local parks or your school campus. Bring your hobbies, sports gear, or pets to showcase what makes you you! Our goal is to capture each senior’s personality and accomplishments. With expert posing guidance and creative flair, we’ll deliver a collection of senior photos you’ll be excited to share with friends and family. Senior year happens once – let’s make your portraits truly special.
Dan Cleary’s fine art photography captures the beauty and complexity of the natural world with striking detail and composition. His work transforms everyday scenes into captivating art pieces, bringing a sense of wonder and serenity to any space. With each photograph, Dan invites viewers to experience the world through a fresh, creative lens, perfect for collectors and art enthusiasts alike.
Dan Cleary’s photography class offers hands-on guidance to help you master your camera and confidently capture stunning images. Through personalized instruction, Dan breaks down essential techniques, empowering students of all levels to improve their skills quickly. Whether you’re a beginner or seeking advanced tips, this class equips you with the knowledge and inspiration to elevate your photography.
Call For More Information 937-298-6776
Dan Can Quickly Answer All Your Questions
Why Choose Cleary Creative Photography?
Dan Cleary is a trusted Dayton photographer with decades of experience and an artist dedicated to telling your story through images. His clients consistently rave about the personal care and attention to detail in every session (“We absolutely love our photos!“). He combines technical skills with a creative touch to ensure you get portraits that exceed your expectations. From the initial consultation to the final edited images, you’ll appreciate our professionalism, patience, and passion for photography.
Ready to Capture Your Memories?
Contact Dan at Cleary Creative Photography today to discuss your photo session or to ask any questions. He’s happy to talk about ideas and locations – whether it's a family reunion portrait, a new professional headshot, or a set of senior pictures for your soon-to-be graduate. Call 937-298-6776 or email Dan@ClearyCreativePhoto.com to get started. Let him help you freeze these moments in time with beautiful photographs.
Call For More Information 937-298-6776
Dan Can Quickly Answer All Your Questions
“Thank you for your kindness and attention to detail with our historical Presidential Portrait collection for Earlham College. Your amazing talent beautifully captured all 20 past presidents and reignited our interest in Earlham's rich history of leadership for the college. Everyone was thrilled with the results at the project unveiling.” Christian Adams, Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana
Call For More Information 937-298-6776
Dan Can Quickly Answer All Your Questions
Dan Cleary was voted best photographer in the region by Dayton Magazine readers for 2024.
With years of experience and a genuine passion for photography, Dan Cleary at Cleary Creative Photography captures the essence of your most meaningful moments. Dan brings creativity and a personalized touch to every session, from family portraits that reflect deep connections to high school senior photos that showcase individuality to professional headshots that exude confidence. As a Certified Professional Photographer and a Master of Fine Arts graduate from the prestigious Cranbrook Academy of Art, Dan combines technical skill with artistic vision. Recognized as a Proud Dayton Original by the Dayton City Commission, he embodies the city's spirit of innovation and creativity. Trust Cleary Creative Photography to tell your unique story through images you'll cherish for a lifetime.
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
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
Latest Blog Posts
Baby Portraits
Call Dan before your baby grows up!
2020 is the year of the Corona-19 virus. Everyone has to stay home, social distance and wear masks. Babies are being still being born and children are still growing up. Time marches on. Dan is back in the studio doing social distancing photography sessions. It’s interesting how many new parents are calling to have him create portraits of their children before the year is up and the children have grown a full year without any quality photographs of themselves. Dan has been photographing babies and children for many years now. Many of those children he has photographed are now driving and graduating from high school. What Dan does best is capture expression. For a split-second babies and children will give you that perfect look, that perfect pose. Dan has the experience and timing to capture that photograph. Call or text Dan at 937-298-6776 or email him at Dan@ClearyCreativePhoto.com to set up an appointment for your baby before they have grown up and you’ve missed that first year of their life. Especially during this weird year when everything seems to have been cancelled or postponed. Don’t postpone your babies’ professional portraits, call Dan now.
Memorial Day 2020
Memorial Day 2020
On July 18th, 1944 Frank Cleary, my Dad, landed at Utah beach 30 days after D Day. He was an artillery forward observer in General Patton’s 3rd army. He had never been instructed what a forward observer did and was scared. Before he went out on his first assignment, Dad was standing up looking out from inside his tank, General Patten walked up, looked right at him and said, “Your job is to take Brest” and then walked down the line inspecting the rest of the battalion. On August 24, 1944 he was transferred to the 212th Artillery Battalion. He was asked to volunteer for the position of an air forward scout. The 212th had taken many causalities and the man he was replacing had died in the line of duty. Frank was a very devout Catholic and knew he had already made it through hard fighting without a scratch. He said to me once “I was saving someone else’s life because I knew I’d be OK.” He was part of an eight-man crew. Two pilots, two observers, a sergeant and three enlisted men. The enlisted men were mechanics and cooks. The sergeant’s job was to find a new place for the planes land every day. They were ahead of the main army and on their own. They would go up in the air in the morning and call in artillery strikes on the enemy positions. On December 11, 1944, five days before the Battle of the Bulge, the division was being shelled heavily so they quickly jumped in their planes and went up looking for targets. He and his pilot, Lou Blumberg knew the general direction where the enemy shells were coming from. Every time they would get within visual range the shelling would stop. They decided to keep flying lower and lower over the enemy until someone fired on them, as he put it “We were hoping some enlisted man would get nervous and take a shot at us”. The plane they were in was a light, cloth covered airplane and one rifle bullet could take them down. Finally, a German solder did fire on them, they pulled up and called in the artillery strike. For he and his pilot’s bravery they were awarded the Silver Star for valor. The Silver Star Medal is the United States Armed Forces third-highest personal decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.
Wilbur Wright Working In The Bike Shop
Wilbur Working In His Bike Shop
Wright Brothers: Then and Now photography series
This one of the early photographs that Orville took of Wilbur working in one of their bike shops. The historic photograph was taken in 1897 so a few years before they were concentrating their efforts on flight. This is one of my images that was well thought out. I liked the historic photograph and I liked the quote from their nephew. All I had to do was take a photograph inside one of their bike shops and hope they work well together. I went to the bike shop in Dayton, Ohio which is part of the National Park. What I didn’t know is how well the two photographs would fit together. In the historic photograph Wilbur is working on a lathe. At the bike shop there was the actual lathe he had worked on in the old photograph. Many of the tool scattered on the work bench are the Wrights actual tools. I like the history of the old photograph with the history of the old tool in me photograph. I was able to include the floor from my recent photograph throughout the entire photograph, so it looks like Wilbur is standing on the current day wood floor. I like playing with time and space in these photographs.
The quote from nephew Milton Wright in 1904 from a newspaper interview. “History was being made in their bicycle shop and in their home but the making was so obscured by the common place I did not recognize it until many years later.
To see more photographs from this series go to ClearyFineArtPhoto.com.
Spring Daffodils
Daffodil Panorama Photographs
Daffodils are one of the first flowers that come up in the spring here in Ohio. I was asked by a client to create two photographs of the 100,000 + daffodils that are planted in their front yard. People stop their cars to look at the spring flowers. Neighbors out walking stop and take selfies; people bring their children over to take photographs with the daffodils in the background. For a few short weeks it is quite a show of color when we need it after the winter. This year more than most with all of us sheltered in place it was great to see that spring had come. My client wanted two 30” x 15” panorama photographs that he could hang in his office. I went over three times to create photographs. First, I went over to scout the location. I wanted to see when the best light was and what the good angles were. I decided that first light with the sun just hitting the house was when I wanted to first go over. I spent about an hour taking photographs but by 9:30 in the morning, the sun was already too high in the sky. I took a few wide shots that showed the landscape and they choose one of these early in the morning photographs. I also wanted to show the personality of the individual flowers. I created several closer up photographs, but the light wasn’t interesting for closeups on that first day. I went back a couple days later on a cloudy day. Clouds act like a large soft light source which render the flowers in fine detail. I created a series of panorama closeups by taking two horizontal photographs pivoted from the same point. Meaning I knew that these photographs would have to be stitched together in PhotoShop. They choose one of these two image panoramas for their second photograph to frame. I spent time working with the photograph of the house to create the morning light. I wanted the warm glow of the early morning lights. I also helped what mother nature hadn’t done by filling in a couple light flower spots. Every year there are a few spots that don’t flower and with a little PhotoShop help I was able to fill in those light spots. PhotoShop does a good job stitching photographs together, it actually does an amazing job, but there are always areas of the photograph that I have to manually create to make the photograph work. I won’t tell you what parts I put together myself, but the finished photograph turned out just the way I wanted. This was a very nice spring project. Especially this year with our stay at home, social distancing that we all have had to do.
