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 and I get a lot of help and advice from other photographers I shoot alongside on a regular basis. Chicago photographers like Brian Jackson, Martha Brock, Debra Meeks, Devlin Brown, Jennifer Williams, Jerome Simmons(my idol), Michelle Muhammad(R.I.P.), Chareice White, Sharisse Linder, Vandell Cobb, Marvin Patterson(R.I.P.) and others. I can't forget my "out of town" photographers Ronnie Wright, Ernie Paniccioli, Perry Thompson(R.I.P.), Dave Goodson, Anthony Cutajar, Al Pereira, and John Ricard in New York. Plus, Bill Jones, Matthew Pearson(R.I.P.), Stanton, Valerie Goodloe, Maury L. Phillips and Arnold Turner in Los Angeles. I have learned a lot, and still learn from all of you! Just make sure you keep passing the knowledge.

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! Whew! My first ever published photo was of the late Roger Troutman, 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 and Popstar!?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 that my love for photography began when I started putting Jackson 5ive pictures on my walls as a kid(wishing that I had taken them). But 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. And 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 and Vanity 6 concert back in 1983, which was the last time I actually PAID for a concert ticket. In looking at some of those pictures, and submitting some of them to the Chicago Defender, I realized what Earl was trying to tell me. So 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! That's what I have been doing since those early days...capturing the true essence of the artists(on stage and off). 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, who represent me, and has my photos placed worldwide on cd covers and inserts, television commercials, books 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. Thanks to this website and a special man I've known for years(Bill Adler in New York), that dream has come true. Bill's EYEJAMMIE FINE ARTS GALLERY in NYC 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. And comedian 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 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 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 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. 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! But being that I have 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 hit me at raymond@raymondboyd.com

Enjoy!

Raymond Boyd