Who Is Michael Buchanan?

Michael captures a self-portrait in Columbia, Tennessee; September 2024

My career in photography began in 1994 as an apprentice to my father, Sam Buchanan, a respected portrait and wedding photographer in the Huntsville, Alabama area. Over the next eight years I learned the craft from the ground up, acquiring not only the technical skills necessary to convert light into art through physics and chemistry (and later digital technology), but also the business acumen required in order to develop a concept into a successful project and a satisfied client.

Upon earning my business administration degree from Athens State University in 2002, I was able to dedicate my full attention to the family photography practice, taking on additional responsibility as a second photographer during event coverage and expanding my role as an image editor as the business transitioned from film into a fully digital workflow.

After operating my own business and focusing on freelance photojournalism and sports coverage throughout the mid-2000s, I relocated to Seattle, Washington and stepped away from professional photography for several years while pursuing other opportunities. Following a move to Nashville, Tennessee in 2018, I returned to active photographic work and established Along the Periphery in 2023 as a showcase for my recent work, reflecting my ethos of operating silently and invisibly along the edges of the action, providing viewers with impartial but unique perspectives of the subjects involved.

As you'll see from my published images, I take pride in avoiding trends and fads; instead, I do my best to document events as they appeared at the moment they were captured. As a member of the National Press Photographers Association, I follow the Association's Code of Ethics when creating documentary images for publication. Likewise, rather than chasing algorithms and riding social media bandwagons, I believe my best advertising comes from my clients when they share my work with friends and family, my associates who can rely on my skill, and a professional approach shaped by three decades of experience.

I'm honored that you would take the time to visit my site, and I welcome your comments and inquiries. I offer a range of services that includes documentary and photojournalism work, portraiture, and event coverage, and I'm available for in-person consultations within the Nashville metro area. Also, if you're an aspiring photographer or you're seeking to build on your existing skills, I'm happy to be of assistance in any way possible--my knowledge has been passed on to me from mentors and role models, and the only way I can repay that debt is to continue the chain of learning in order to advance the art of photography for everyone involved.