About Hamilton Images

I’m Randy Hamilton, owner and photographer behind Hamilton Images. Portrait photography is where I’ve really pushed myself over the years, but I also shoot a lot of commercial work—products, food, advertising, and branded imagery. I’m based in Pensacola, but I regularly travel throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond, including Pensacola Beach, Destin, Perdido Key, Orange Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seaside, and Navarre Beach.

I come from a fine art background, and that shows up in how I shoot. Composition, perspective, and mood matter to me. I’m always trying to create something that feels artistic while still capturing the real spirit of the person or subject in front of me.

Before photography became such a big part of my career, I worked as a graphic designer, and that experience still drives how I approach commercial shoots. I naturally think about layout, flow, and how an image will be used in a final design. I’m always aware of negative space, where text might live, and how the eye moves through an image. That makes my work a strong fit for advertising and marketing projects.

At the core of it all, I’m a storyteller. Visual storytelling is what pulled me into photography in the first place. I want images to say something, not just look good. With portraits especially, I work to bring out personality and authenticity. That storytelling approach is on full display in my award-winning photography project, *The One Shoe Diaries*.

I was born and raised in Cincinnati and have lived in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Hawaii. Sharon and I settled in Pensacola for several years before Hurricane Ivan destroyed our home. After that, we spent four years traveling the country in a motorhome with our two dogs before finding our way back to Pensacola. Life eventually slowed down in the best way—we’re now raising our daughter, Nora, who keeps things fun and puts everything into perspective.

I studied at the Columbus College of Art and Design for four years and later graduated from the University of West Florida with a degree in art. My career started in graphic design, where I earned awards and gradually folded photography into my work. That design mindset still shapes everything I do—clean, efficient visuals with a clear purpose. Alongside photography, I’ve also returned to my fine art roots, spending more time with oil painting and charcoal drawing. Sharon and I continue to develop and exhibit *The One Shoe Diaries*, blending photography with storytelling from our time on the road.

My work has been published widely. One of my favorite moments was seeing an image of my daughter, Nora, playing in the surf at Pensacola Beach used as the cover of the 2012 Visit Pensacola Visitor Guide. I’ve also served as the primary photographer for *Snowbirds Magazine*, with additional features in *Southern Living*, *Coastal Lifestyles*, *CNN*, *Pilot Getaways*, *The Beaches to Woodlands Guide*, *Pensacola News Journal*, *The Pelican*, and more.

In recent years, I’ve become especially well known for portrait photography around Pensacola and the surrounding Gulf Coast, and that’s where I continue to focus most of my energy—creating honest, strong images that people actually connect with.