Suncoast Professional Photography focuses on the business world
David Wilson knew he wanted to do something different after a 20-year career as a forensic death investigator.
And he knew that he wanted to do something different from the photography he did for record labels in Nashville, Tenn.
Maybe retirement would be just the thing.
But as it happened, he started Suncoast Professional Photography about 3 1/2 years ago in Bradenton.
“Bonnie Harmsen and I were friends and knew each other through photography associations,” Wilson said.
He invited the Iowa native who was pursing a photography career in Minnesota to visit Bradenton to see if she might like to make a change.
We want to be a thriving business, but we don’t want it to grow to the point we can’t maintain a standard. We won’t settle for mediocrity.
David Wilson
Suncoast Professional Photography“I came down and fell in love with Bradenton,” she said.
Soon, she joined Suncoast Professional Photography, which focuses on photography for businesses, everything from a product to food to a facility, as well as services or staff members.
The company recently was named a finalist in the Manatee Chamber of Commerce’s annual Small Business of the Year awards in the category for those with less than $250,000 in annual revenue.
“He is the senior photographer and I am learning from him every day,” Harmsen said, noting that much of her previous work revolved around family photography.
Wilson said his company deals with its business differently than a general photographer.
“Our photos often end up in marketing materials or in magazines. We take care of the licensing and copyright issues,” he said. “We want to be a thriving business, but we don’t want it to grow to the point we can’t maintain a standard. We won’t settle for mediocrity.”
It was a bit of an adjustment having a business partner, he said.
“Bonnie is a great partner and a person of faith. We care about our clients and our business,” he said. “The legacy we want to leave is that Bonnie and David were great people and really good photographers,” he said.
Suncoast Professional Photography seems well on its way to achieving that legacy, as noted by being named a finalist for the Manatee Chamber awards.
For more information, visit suncoastprofessionalphotography.com.
James A. Jones Jr.: 941-745-7053, @jajones1
This story was originally published August 29, 2017 at 3:23 PM with the headline "Suncoast Professional Photography focuses on the business world."