Who Is Michael Buchanan?

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

My career in the photography industry began in 1994 when I started working as a location and studio assistant with my father, Sam Buchanan, a respected portrait and wedding photographer in the Huntsville, Alabama metro area whose technique was influenced by the style of master photographer and innovator Monte Zucker. Over the next eight years I learned my profession through informal apprenticeship--acquiring not only the technical skills necessary to convert light into art through physics and chemistry (and digital technology starting with a Kodak DC-120 in 1997), but also the business acumen required in order to develop a concept into a satisfied client.

Upon completing my undergraduate degree in business administration from Athens State University in 2002, I was able to dedicate my complete focus toward 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. I created my own business in 2005, branching out into freelance photojournalism and local high school sports coverage along with creating artwork for sale to private clients.

As the photography industry experienced a period of turmoil and contraction during the late-2000s, I made the difficult decision to put my photography career on indefinite hiatus while relocating to Seattle, Washington and pursuing other professional goals. In 2018 after moving to Nashville, Tennessee, I began creating an updated portfolio of commercial and fashion images, and by 2021 I was once again covering local events on a freelance basis. I 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 (I'm a current member in good standing of the National Press Photographers Association and I abide by the Association's Code of Ethics when creating documentary images for publication) and to utilize time-proven techniques to show my portrait subjects in the most flattering manner possible. 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 professionalism, and my own confidence based on decades of experience that I can get the job done regardless of any challenges.

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.

Pssst. . .if you've made it this far you've probably got some time on your hands, so drop the needle on your favorite classic metal album and check out what I do when I'm not looking through a viewfinder. . .