I don't want to bore you with a long, drawn-out story as to how I got started taking pictures. I'll simply say that I have a God-given talent! I'm self-taught, plus I get a lot of help and advice from other photographers I shot alongside during my early beginnings, and now on a regular basis.

I have been taking pictures since high school when my mother bought me a Kodak pocket camera(remember those?) for graduation. And as they say, the rest is history! I have been taking pictures in the entertainment industry for over 20 years now! Whew! My first ever published photo was of the late Roger Troutman of Zapp, which appeared in then-published Rock & Soul Magazine back in 1983. Since then, my work has appeared in, and still appear in publications such as Fresh!, YO!, Black Beat, M!, Right On!, Word Up!, Sister 2 Sister, Ebony/Jet, Popstar!, Black Noir, Billboard and Upscale among others. Record companies and publicists also hire me to photograph their artists when they appear in and around Chicago for promotional purposes. Some of those photos can be seen throughout raymondboyd.com

I guess I could say my love for photography began as a kid when I started putting pictures of my favorite group, The Jackson 5ive on my walls(wishing that I had taken them). And who knew years later as a photographer I would actually meet them! My initial introduction to my work being published came from shooting for the Chicago Defender newspaper, which I have to thank Fine Arts Editor Earl Calloway for. He would always see me on the "scene" at various functions, and ask me who I shot for. When I responded that I was doing it for fun, he immediately told me that I was wasting a God-given talent and to look him up. I did that, and began as a freelance entertainment photographer for the Defender. During that time, I attended a Prince/Time/Vanity 6 concert back in 1983, which was the last time I actually PAID for a concert ticket. Now I get photo passes and free tix! But In looking at pictures from that concert, and submitting some of them to the Chicago Defender, I realized what Earl was trying to tell me.

I worked hard at my craft to try to develop a style. But when I was told that my photos capture the "true essence of the artist", I thought, "Man, that's deep!" As I sit back and look at some of my work now, I guess Earl Calloway was right when he told me that! And t hat's what I have been doing since those early days...capturing the true essence of the artists. And when you view my work, I hope you see that same thing. My work has also captured the eyes of the prestigious Michael Ochs Archives in Venice, California who represent me. They have my photos placed worldwide on cd covers and inserts, television commercials, books and magazines distributed by Time and Life Books and countless other entertainment-oriented outlets. Shouts out to Jonathan Hyams and the staff at Michael Ochs for the fat checks!

What I'm most proud of now, is that I have always wanted to have my work shown in a photo galley. And thanks to my website and a special man I've known for years named Bill Adler, that dream came true. Bill's EYEJAMMIE FINE ARTS GALLERY in New York City had a special photo tribute to Run DMC called, "It's Like That: 20 Years of Run DMC". Some of my photos were included in that exhibit. Comedian, and huge Run DMC fan, Chris Rock actually bought a photo of mine from the gallery. Thanks Chris! That exhibit has also been to the HEADQUARTERS SALON GALLERY in Los Angeles. Matt Suroff of Sock Bandit Productions, also in NYC found me through my website. From my "Classic Rap Fotos", Matt used some of my photos(N.W.A., Luke, Run DMC and MC Hammer) in his Hip-Hop Immortals Remix book. He also had some of those "classic" photos displayed at the PROUD GALLERY in London. But before that, a group photo I took of N.W.A. back in 1989 was displayed and sold at the GOVINA GALLERY in Washington, D.C.!

Through my years of photography, I have traveled a lot, learned a great deal, and have developed some special friendships with special people. And what's good about it, is that I am still in the game some 20 years later! I'm STILL learning and STILL having fun!. And that's what it's all about! And being that I never studied photography, my eyes and ears are always open as I continue to learn! With the knowledge that I achieve, I continue to pass it on to the new photographers coming into the game. And to the would-be photographers who email me from all over the world and abroad, I appreciate your email. I hope my advice work for you. So sit back and enjoy my website! Your comments and criticism are well appreciated! You can reach me at raymond@raymondboyd.com

Enjoy!
Raymond Boyd