Scott Olson Photography

04/22/2026

Expanded Availability Now Open

More time. More flexibility. More opportunities to create.

I’ve expanded my hours to better serve clients with morning, evening, and weekend availability—so your session fits your schedule, not the other way around.

New Hours:

Wednesday – Thursday: 8a–6p
Friday: 8a–8p
Saturday: 8a–9p
Sunday: 8a–8p
Monday & Tuesday: Closed

Looking forward to creating something meaningful with you.

Versatile & distinctive portraits, events, weddings, lifestyle, brands, and aerial drone photography. Serving St. Louis, MO area & Southwest Illinois region.

03/19/2026

Anyone with a digital camera, film camera, or smartphone camera that wants to level up their photography knowledge and skills and get the type of photos they want intentionally in several different lighting scenarios; have I got a solution for you?

This spring, summer, and fall - I will be offering hands on affordable photography seminars to help you get the photo results you are looking for. I will teach with both an iconic vintage film camera that hundreds of thousands of people honed their skills on, as well as a DSLR and smartphone camera to better understand settings as they relate to proper exposure for more dynamic photo results.

I'd like to get a pre-seminar release of people that would find this type of educational experience something they would be interested in. Please respond with a comment "yes" or "no".

Details will be coming out on my website and social media profiles in mid to late April 2026. Again, please give a like and a comment in this post if this is something you would be interested in.

St. Louis, MO metropolitan area locations to be determined.

www.scottolson.photography

03/16/2026

There are many ways to interpret a digital raw photo (like the analog similarity of a film photo that has not taken a chemical bath yet) as some of my photog colleagues are keenly aware.

For my non-photographer followers or passer-by's, I am showing the raw image (before editing) and the finished rendering I was trying to accomplish. I wanted an artsy, more dreamy painting-like result, and a little on the dark side. Some of you may see that and feel that. The trail and arched canopy told the story for this shot.

For my photographer followers or just passing through fellows: this is straight out of the camera framing, no crops. A little higher on the iso at 1000, f/6.3 (to get the light), 1/100 a little on the ragged edge for my 85mm prime and obvious minor motion blur because of the shutter speed. No built-in stabilization on the camera body or lens.

Technically I missed on both acceptably sharp and certainly not tack sharp focus. I like sharp photos just as much as the next professional photographer, however over the years I've learned to break a few rules and allow myself to see the photo potential in a good frame that might be able to be edited and evoke similar emotion to a tack sharp photo. See it more artistically in the editing process if you will, and enjoy breaking a few rules from time to time, and embrace creativity.

I welcome comments from non-photographers and photographers alike! Thank you!

03/08/2026

I want to recognize and celebrate women all around the globe this year in my traditional photography celebration of International Women's Day in a way that comes from just not me, but the hearts of 8 outstanding women artistic models.

They collaborated with me to capture their unique representation of women that show up daily as businesswoman, entrepreneurs, laborers, stay at home mom's, spouses, significant others, and community; bound in the commonality of sisterhood and individuality.

We encourage all women to stand proud of your accomplishments and find strength in your inner and outer beauty. Please know you are making a difference in this world.

Together, you all have the infinite right and power to be good to yourselves first, then help reshape the trajectory for responsible and compassionate leadership in all you do that this world sorely needs.

On behalf of my talented team, we celebrate you today, ladies!

Models:



_


parmer

Photographer Assistant and Female Super Power:

03/03/2026

First time working with the sensational Kyra. A little sneak peek at one of many more powerhouse photos from a multi-model February editorial fashion session to be released March 8. Stay tuned. Give Kyra some likes and comments!

Check out the links in my bio about the mult-genre photo sessions available now. There are a few spots available in March, and now booking for the spring season.

02/27/2026

Hours before a massive cold front hit, late in 2025. 40+ deg F temp drops the next morning. Drone pilots queue to get some dramatic sky photos. We were on the dry side of the front so no severe weather, just heavenly-looking clouds.

Sky photos make beautiful prints for wall art. Follow my website for new work or older classics. Website links in my bio. Featuring multi-genre value-added photography services. Thank you for following and your patronage! 🙏🏻

02/26/2026

65 years today of going around the sun! No regrets, lessons learned, and many more to learn. New adventures and good times lie ahead. I'm not going to let the old man in! 💪🏻😉✌🏻

Thank you Gina for the cool pic! ❤️

02/23/2026

I got to work again with the always creative and beautiful Rizia! Another one of the talented cast that supported my editorial shoot that will be released in early March. Show some likes and love for her!

02/22/2026

The art of photography has the power to narrate beyond the written word and mainstream perspectives. It can provide light to the unseen and tell their story in truth, courage, and reality. - SAO

11/25/2025

Another fall hike two for Tuesday.

If you've ever been at one of these types of places, you can't help but recall those senses from memory. You can hear the sounds of the waterfall, the smell of the fresh rain and how it makes the forest floor shimmer with different light and fresh smells.

For camera beginners and aficionados alike, these photos were taken in low light due to the tall canopy of trees and clouds from a rainy day. ISO 400 setting is my usual go to for cloudy days.

Many of the shots I took that day were at much higher ISO settings from 640 to 4000. These two were at 640 ISO out of the camera and around f/4 aperture. That worked out because I was looking for a little fall of front to back and side to side on my depth of field. I feel that helps the eye see sharpness on the subject (the waterfall and the red leaf in these two.)

Key takeaway don't be timid to shoot at higher ISO's, especially if your camera sensor is designed for low light and your post processing software can reduce the noise from higher ISO settings.

Message me anytime if you'd like to know more about ISO settings. You can also tune in to my blog for more upcoming tips and education about all things photography. https://www.scottolson.photography/blog/