I was that typical kid that hated having my pictures made. Any time a camera was pointed in my direction, I’d usually duck out. Of course, I never had my portraits professionally made. The one portrait I actually bought myself was my tux portrait my senior year in high school.

I know the value of a portrait. I have none of my Granny and now I’ll never have that chance. I have portraits I made of my Pop. I have a portrait I made of Mrs. Ruth. I’ve made portraits of my friends and some of my family. I’ve made artwork of young teenagers whose life was taken from their mamas way too soon. I’ve created paintings of friends’ family to display at funerals.

The value of a portrait is beyond what we could put into words, beyond any amount of money.

I know the value of a portrait. I had none of myself in my teenage years. I also struggled with low self-esteem and virtually no confidence, either in myself or my abilities as an artist. Not until I began this journey as a photographer did I develop any sense of being sure of what I could do. Not to brag, of course. I don’t like bragging. There are studies that show that families that display their portraits prominently have children that are more confident than children whose families did not display them prominently. This can be especially useful for young boys and girls that truly need that extra push of love, to know that mom and dad are so proud of them that they hung a portrait of them on a wall in their home for all to see.

So I know the value of a portrait.

I do what I do to raise that confidence in you, in young people, in business owners, in children…and I raise my own confidence as well. I don’t have children of my own. I don’t have a wife. I don’t date. My passion is making portraits, making art, and seeing the joy it brings to your faces as they light up.

A while back, I decided to print a portrait of myself and hang it up in my house. It felt conceited but it was also a reminder each day of who I am and what I was doing and thinking when it was taken. I took it down and replaced it with a portrait of myself and my dog, Starbuck, whose life ended in August of 2025. It is my greatest treasure and the last picture of us together. She’s looking at me in this memory on the wall with the look of a dog that loves her human. I’m looking at her, too. I purchased this wall portrait with what little I had to spend on it. In my mind, I was willing to spend anything and everything to save her but I couldn’t. If I was willing to do that, how could I not be willing to have this memory in my home for as long as I live?

Along this journey of self-discovery, I found a passion that went beyond the lens. I found what I was good at. I’ve never been someone who likes cars and trucks and how they work. I’ve never changed the oil in my truck or built a house. I couldn’t tell you how engines work. I can tell you that I know how to light a portrait and help you look your absolute best for your own treasures. So that’s what I do.

I grew up in Monroeville, Alabama, where art takes a backseat to other careers and opportunities. Other kids would be outside playing in the summer heat or spending hours upon hours on video games. I spent my time reading, writing, and doing my best to make art. I wasn’t very good at the latter until I discovered the art of photography. That’s what opened the doors to my understanding of what my artistic vision was lacking. Once I discovered that missing piece, I achieved in a short time what thousands of photographers have spent years to accomplish.

 I was designated a Certified Professional Photographer in 2017, after an evaluation of my portfolio and an exam via proctor. In 2021, I received my Master Photographer degree from Professional Photographers of America, in the span of three years. The following year, 2022, I received the Master Artist degree – again, in the span of three years; it is also the most difficult to achieve. In 2023, I received the Photographic Craftsman degree; this degree is awarded to photographers in the industry that have passed on knowledge through teaching at various organizations throughout the years. The Craftsman degree was awarded after just one single year. At that same time, I received the Imaging Excellence Medallion. Also in 2023, I received the Accredited Professional of Animal Imagery degree from the Animal Image Makers. In 2025, I became the first man to receive the American Society of Photographers’ Photographic Artistry Medallion.

While I’m truly grateful to the industry that helped me discover how deep my passion for photography and art goes, I know that you don’t care about any of the awards. You care about the results of your portrait experience here. That’s what it’s all about.

The experience you’ll get here is not a, “Smile for the camera!” experience. I’m not a Sears photographer. I’m also not a “mini session” photographer – those types of experiences do not capture the heart and soul of who you and your family are. At Corey McDonald Portrait Artist, we capture who you are and what you are – which isn’t something we can do in just a few minutes’ time before the next family walks into the assembly line. We make sure that your portraits represent the true love you have for those around you, something unique that can’t be replicated. From our award-winning high school seniors to our fine art children’s portraits and beyond. Every frame is a moment that can be cherished, not just copied to a USB to be put in a drawer in your kitchen.

The value of your portrait experience here is priceless, as are you and your family.

I’m here to make sure that you know the value, too.