Getting to know us.
If your photographic needs go beyond the routine department store photo then you should carefully consider your decision for a photographer. You need to know your photographer's abilities and personality in order to know if you are making the right choice. We invite you to take a moment to get to know us a bit better.
She says . . .
Don and I are native to Southwest Georgia, having grown up in Pelham in Mitchell County.
We were high school sweethearts back in the mid-late 70’s. We probably had the longest courtship ever…we dated 8 ½ years and finally married in Aug of 1982. We relocated to the Albany area in 1990 where Don continued his work as a pharmacist and I worked in accounting for a local warehouse & distribution company.
We both have a great love for taking pictures - Don is all about being technically correct and me, well I just like to point and shoot! I guess you could say my talent is that I love people! I assist by setting up shots and making people feel relaxed, comfortable and ensuring that they are having a good time.
Occasionally I have the opportunity to take a few shots and much to my surprise they are pretty darn good! (Don’s instruction is starting to pay off.)
Don began developing his photography skills while in high school. He was the photographer for sports events as well the yearbook.
Don photographed his first weddings in 1975 while working part-time with the local studio. He learned darkroom skills as well. By default we were always the official photographers at family functions.
Eventually a dear friend asked us to photograph her son’s wedding. This caused us to focus on possibly moving our photography to the professional level. We began doing a wedding here and there and we were asked to be the official photographers for a local beauty pageant. We realized we were really enjoying photographing these events. Not only did we possess the necessary skills, but now the desire to pursue photography professionally engaged us.
We felt it was time to establish ourselves as a business and come up with a name, thus Southern Light Images.
We were high school sweethearts back in the mid-late 70’s. We probably had the longest courtship ever…we dated 8 ½ years and finally married in Aug of 1982. We relocated to the Albany area in 1990 where Don continued his work as a pharmacist and I worked in accounting for a local warehouse & distribution company.
We both have a great love for taking pictures - Don is all about being technically correct and me, well I just like to point and shoot! I guess you could say my talent is that I love people! I assist by setting up shots and making people feel relaxed, comfortable and ensuring that they are having a good time.

Don began developing his photography skills while in high school. He was the photographer for sports events as well the yearbook.
Don photographed his first weddings in 1975 while working part-time with the local studio. He learned darkroom skills as well. By default we were always the official photographers at family functions.
Eventually a dear friend asked us to photograph her son’s wedding. This caused us to focus on possibly moving our photography to the professional level. We began doing a wedding here and there and we were asked to be the official photographers for a local beauty pageant. We realized we were really enjoying photographing these events. Not only did we possess the necessary skills, but now the desire to pursue photography professionally engaged us.
We felt it was time to establish ourselves as a business and come up with a name, thus Southern Light Images.
He says . . .
A bit about me? Let's see - I like motorcycling. I like bicycling. I like scuba diving. I like traveling. I LOVE photography!
Corlis is correct about my technical side. I learned early on that I loved the study of lighting, cameras, composition, darkroom work - literally all facets of photography. For so many years, photography was just an enjoyable avocation. As our pharmacy and accounting careers “matured” we realized that our long held love for photography was just the right vehicle to carry us into the next phase of our professional lives.

We are committed to providing the level of professional service one should expect as a client. We shoot digitally with Nikon cameras and lenses. For lighting we use both small Nikon strobes as well as larger studio strobes as the event we’re shooting requires. We have a portable studio with various backdrops and lighting gear. We have a dedicated shooting area in our home office/studio. We have backup camera bodies, lenses, and lighting to ensure an equipment malfunction doesn’t cause a major problem.
Since we are fully digital with our production, we strive to stay current with our computers, software, and skills. We use both Apple Macs and PCs in our workflow. Our software suite is extensive with our primary tools being Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. We are continually studying and working to improve our skills and knowledge. We are members of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), Digital Wedding Forum (DWF), and other groups to help us become better photographers.
Corlis is correct about my technical side. I learned early on that I loved the study of lighting, cameras, composition, darkroom work - literally all facets of photography. For so many years, photography was just an enjoyable avocation. As our pharmacy and accounting careers “matured” we realized that our long held love for photography was just the right vehicle to carry us into the next phase of our professional lives.

We are committed to providing the level of professional service one should expect as a client. We shoot digitally with Nikon cameras and lenses. For lighting we use both small Nikon strobes as well as larger studio strobes as the event we’re shooting requires. We have a portable studio with various backdrops and lighting gear. We have a dedicated shooting area in our home office/studio. We have backup camera bodies, lenses, and lighting to ensure an equipment malfunction doesn’t cause a major problem.
Since we are fully digital with our production, we strive to stay current with our computers, software, and skills. We use both Apple Macs and PCs in our workflow. Our software suite is extensive with our primary tools being Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. We are continually studying and working to improve our skills and knowledge. We are members of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), Digital Wedding Forum (DWF), and other groups to help us become better photographers.
What others say about us.
Advertising may catch your eye and make you aware, but first hand accounts are of primary value in helping you choose a photographer. Here are a few of the comments we've been fortunate to receive.
Hello Corlis! I just wanted to tell you thank you SOOOO much for the pictures! They turned out way more beautiful than I even expected! I have looked at them like at least 15 times...I LOVE them!! The book is absolutely amazing! I have never seen anything like it! Anyway - we truly appreciate it soooo much. Jennifer
Hi, Don and Corlis! I wanted to let you know Walt and Amy's album is beautiful! They were so pleased and looked at it over and over when they were at home last weekend. You do GREAT work, and I put in a plug for you every time anyone asks who did the pictures. I know you will do well in your photography business, not only because of the quality of your work, but also because of the special people you are. Thanks again for everything!!! Sheila
Hi Don! Your pictures from the Albany race are great! Since moving up north, I have joined a women's cycling club, Sorella Cycling, and they were in Albany for the race. You captured one of the girls and the feedback from the club on the shots you took of her has been so positive & complimentary, I wanted to share that with you before much more time went by! Suzy
Hey Don and Corlis! We are in the mountains on our honeymoon and having an absolute blast!! I wasn't able to express our debt of gratitude for you both at the reception, so I wanted to do that now. We are delighted that God was able to cross our paths with you. We heard nothing but amazing things about the pictures you took for our engagement, and we are looking forward with great anticipation to the final pictures of our wedding! Everything went out beautifully and we could not have been more pleased. The weather was perfect, the people were great, and you guys did an outstanding job capturing all of the special moments that we shared that day. I hope we are able to stay in touch! Sincerely, Jonathan and Cyndi
The pictures turned out WONDERFUL!!! Ahh we love them! You are more than welcome to go ahead and upload them online. Thank you again for doing this for us!! Cyndi
Don, Thanks for the pics they are excellent. My team and I really appreciate it. Thanks again, Chett
You and Corlis went WAY beyond our expectations and we are very pleased with your work. Thanks again, Morgan
Rest assured...we all have only HIGH praises for the two of you. Would NEVER recommend any other photographers as you are the BEST!!! Vonnice
Thank you! The pictures are great. I have been racing for years and these are probably some of the best I have ever seen of a bike race. Again, thanks for taking the time and taking such great pictures. Kent
Hey Mr. Don - I think the pictures are beautiful! You guys really did a great job! Tanya
Don -- these are wonderful. I have been in Atlanta since first thing Monday morning so I am just getting where I can view these. The kids are absolutely delighted. Thank you and Corlis so much for this wonderful thing you did. You helped make this a wonderful wedding. Sherry
Hello Corlis! I just wanted to tell you thank you SOOOO much for the pictures! They turned out way more beautiful than I even expected! I have looked at them like at least 15 times...I LOVE them!! The book is absolutely amazing! I have never seen anything like it! Anyway - we truly appreciate it soooo much. Jennifer
Hi, Don and Corlis! I wanted to let you know Walt and Amy's album is beautiful! They were so pleased and looked at it over and over when they were at home last weekend. You do GREAT work, and I put in a plug for you every time anyone asks who did the pictures. I know you will do well in your photography business, not only because of the quality of your work, but also because of the special people you are. Thanks again for everything!!! Sheila
Hi Don! Your pictures from the Albany race are great! Since moving up north, I have joined a women's cycling club, Sorella Cycling, and they were in Albany for the race. You captured one of the girls and the feedback from the club on the shots you took of her has been so positive & complimentary, I wanted to share that with you before much more time went by! Suzy
Hey Don and Corlis! We are in the mountains on our honeymoon and having an absolute blast!! I wasn't able to express our debt of gratitude for you both at the reception, so I wanted to do that now. We are delighted that God was able to cross our paths with you. We heard nothing but amazing things about the pictures you took for our engagement, and we are looking forward with great anticipation to the final pictures of our wedding! Everything went out beautifully and we could not have been more pleased. The weather was perfect, the people were great, and you guys did an outstanding job capturing all of the special moments that we shared that day. I hope we are able to stay in touch! Sincerely, Jonathan and Cyndi
The pictures turned out WONDERFUL!!! Ahh we love them! You are more than welcome to go ahead and upload them online. Thank you again for doing this for us!! Cyndi
Don, Thanks for the pics they are excellent. My team and I really appreciate it. Thanks again, Chett
You and Corlis went WAY beyond our expectations and we are very pleased with your work. Thanks again, Morgan
Rest assured...we all have only HIGH praises for the two of you. Would NEVER recommend any other photographers as you are the BEST!!! Vonnice
Thank you! The pictures are great. I have been racing for years and these are probably some of the best I have ever seen of a bike race. Again, thanks for taking the time and taking such great pictures. Kent
Hey Mr. Don - I think the pictures are beautiful! You guys really did a great job! Tanya
Don -- these are wonderful. I have been in Atlanta since first thing Monday morning so I am just getting where I can view these. The kids are absolutely delighted. Thank you and Corlis so much for this wonderful thing you did. You helped make this a wonderful wedding. Sherry
We're on Facebook: Corlis Don
