Capturing Powerful Moments That Tell Your Story

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

At Cleary Creative Photography, Dan provides professional photography that brings your vision to life. A dedicated photographer in Dayton, Ohio who brings his creativity, professionalism, and passion to every session.

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How Dan Cleary Will Help You With His Creative Photography Skills

Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography 2023

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.

Elevate your brand’s visual identity with professional business photography. Dan Cleary’s skilled eye and creative approach capture the essence of your company, compelling imagery that engages your audience and drives results. Whether you need headshots, product photos, or custom photographic solutions, Dan partners to bring your vision to life and showcase your business in the best possible light.

Preserve your family’s memories with timeless, natural portraits that capture the genuine connections and personalities that make your loved ones unique. Dan’s relaxed, personalized approach puts everyone at ease, allowing him to beautifully document your family’s story in a way that you’ll cherish for generations. Dan’s creative expertise will ensure you receive stunning, high-quality images that become a treasured family heirloom.

Dan Cleary’s high school senior portraits capture each student’s unique personality, creating lasting memories for them and their families. His professional approach brings out natural expressions and confidence, ensuring that every photo feels authentic and meaningful. Dan’s portraits stand out, giving students and parents images they will treasure for years.

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.

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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.

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“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

 

 

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

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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

Wright Brothers Fine Art Photographs

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I have always been interested in history. I read the biography of the Wright Brothers by David McCullough. In it he wrote of the Wright Brothers purchasing an expensive, "modern," glass plate camera in order to document their experiment with flight. It dawned on me that the Wright Brothers, among all their talents, were photographers, as well. I am a native Daytonian yet I had never been out to Huffman Prairie where the Wrights had completed most of their experiments with flight. So I packed up and went out there with my camera and took a few photographs.

Wright Brothers, 7 Hawthorn Street by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
Wright Brothers Glider at Kill Devel Hill by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio

I did some research and spent some time looking at their images and realized that not much had really changed in the landscape at Huffman Prairie in all these many years. In fact, there was one image of the Flyer in the air that seemed to fit perfectly into one of my own photographs. My interests in history lead me to wonder how the city of Dayton looked 100 years ago and how the images of the past related to the present. This project is a combination of the history of 100 years ago with today. 

Wright Brothers photograph, Nov 24th 1903 by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
Wright Brothers First Flight by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio

The first photograph I created in my Wright Brothers series was the Amos Root quote image. It’s a photograph of the catapult the Wright Brothers built to propel their machine up to speed quickly out at Huffman Prairie. After I looked at the images I created I started looking at other images the Wright’s had made and found the image of the plane flying at Huffman Prairie. Using PhotoShop I combined the two images so that the horizons lines up. The image I found the image of the plane on the internet and I thought my final image was very successful. The only problem was the Wright’s image was a low resolution internet image. So I started doing some research and found that both the Library of Congress and Wright State University library had scanned many of the Wright Brothers original prints and negative in high resolution. I contacted Wright State University and they allow me to obtain the images I need directly from them. I am also able to download high rez original scans from the Library of Congress.

Wright Brothers, Amos Root quote by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
Wright Brothers Flight #85 by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio

My first trip out to Huffman Prairie was in the winter of 2015. I did research on both Wright State library and the Library of Congresses web site and knew what images were there so last summer my wife and I went Kitty Hawk, South Carolina to visit the National Park. While there I created many photographs that I could use with Wright Brothers photographs. One of the Wright Brothers other attributes was they were prolific writers. They both keep detailed journals. The Library of Congress have scanned their journals and Wright State Uni library has many original journals which is where I get the quotes included in each piece. I also get the quote from a couple books I have read including David MaCullough’s auto-biography of the Wright Brothers.

Donated Art To Local Public Television Station

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Family portrait with their dogs by Miami River by Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio Family portrait in their backyard by Cleary Creative Photography in Oakwood Ohio

Here is my donation this year to Think TV’s auction. Many businesses from the Dayton area donate products and services for them to auction as a fundraiser. I donate a family portrait and wall portrait every year. The family portrait can be on location at a park, or at the winner’s house. It’s a great time to get the whole family together, all the aunts and uncles, all the cousins, all your brothers and sisters together for a portrait. Go to my family portrait page to see more samples, ClearyCreativePhoto.com/family_portraits.

Fall Family Portrait at Aullwood Garden by Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio Family in their backyard on rocks by Cleary Creative Photography in Beavercreek Ohio Family portrait at Smith Gardens in Oakwood by Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio Family portrait in back yard by Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio

I also donate a piece of art. This winter I created a photograph of Downtown Dayton after sunset. In winter the Miami River is usually higher because the ground is frozen and all the water runs into the river. The higher river creates a beautiful reflection of the downtown buildings.  Go to my fine arts photography page to see more Downtown Dayton images. ClearyCreativePhoto.com/downtown-dayton-fine-arts-photographs/

Downtown Dayton At Night in January 2017 by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio

There are hundreds of items to bid on and purchase. Public television is very important to our community. Go to www.ThinkTV.org/auction.

Professional Headshot Portraits

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Professional outdoor business portrait by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
professional business portrait of Tom Rubens by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio

Professional Headshots of Local Author

These photographs are of a friend of mine Tom Rubens. Tom is an entrepreneur, business coach and author. He needed professional photographs of himself for his website, book jacket and other public relations needs. We talked about were to do the headshot portraits, in the studio or on location. Tom wanted something a little different and we decided on a location. Fortunately the day we were both available was great weather. I did a series of five different poses both indoors and outdoors.

professional headshot portrait of Tom Rubens by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio

Hiring a professional photographer is very important

Tom wanted something more natural looking. He wanted his photographs not to look stiff. I have many years experience working with business people from all over the country and many different industries. Some people want studio portraits and other people want location photographs. There are many natural light, location only photographer out there but most don’t have the experience to create professional looking portraits. A snap shot is not a professional photograph.

Business portrait of Tom Rubens by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
professional headshot portrait of Tom Rubens by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio

Finishing Your images

After the portrait session comes the final part of the process. I take the time to do retouching and enhancement work on the images. I don’t deliver straight out of the camera images to my clients. I take the extra time to finish the photographs. Retouching is as important to your image as the photography is. I have 30 years experience to make your portraits perfect. I’m not looking to make your photographs look glamorous but make them look natural.

Professional business portrait of Tom Rubens by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio

Call the studio at 937-298-6776 To talk about your next project

If you and or your company need professional headshot portraits, give Dan a call and he will talk to you about your project. To see additional samples go to http://ClearyCreativePhoto.com/corporate-photography/

First Year Baby Portraits

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One of the most fun things I do at Cleary Creative Photography is photograph babies. When a three month old baby smiles back at you during a portrait session, how can it not melt your heart. I have a year long baby portrait program called The Little Miracles First Year Baby Plan. During the first year of your babies life we will do four or five portrait session. If you come in early enough when your baby is a few weeks old we can do a newborn baby portrait session. Then at three months the fun begins. At three months your baby will start holding their head up while laying on it’s tummy. Their eyesight is getting better and they recognize a smile. At the six month session your baby will be able to sit up on their own. And they have learned how to laugh. The expressions I get at the six month session are beautiful. At nine months they are strong enough to stand up on their on. They aren’t walking yet but they might be cruising, holding on the the furniture. At nine months they might also begin to have separation anxiety and I have plenty of experience to help with that session to make sure we capture perfect photographs. We end the year with a 12 month session. Hopefully your child isn’t walking yet (or more likely running) but it’s a great time to do a few outfits. A child will do much better in an enclosed space like a photography studio instead of an outdoor portrait. When a baby is outdoor their attention is easily distracted and getting great expressions is so much harder. Here are three of my newest member of the year long baby club. If you want more information about my baby plan go to http://clearycreativephoto.com/little-miracles-1st-year-baby-photography/. There you can see more examples of all the fun photographs I make and some of the framed art I create for my clients. And if you have any questions give me a call at 937-298-6776.

three month studio baby portrait by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
four week studio baby portrait by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio
three month studio baby Cutie Kissable portrait collage by Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography in Dayton Ohio

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