Nelson Saunders

Nelson Saunders grew up in the photography business. His father, Nelson Sr., gave him his first 35mm camera when he was just seven years old. From that moment forward, photography has been in his blood. The first of six children, Nelson always knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.

At ten, Nelson was printing black-and-white photographs in his dad’s photographic lab. Not only was he processing his own film and printing his own pictures, but he was also printing for his father’s company. Soon, he began printing color, retouching, mounting, and going out on professional photography shoots. By thirteen, he was assisting at weddings, bar mitzvahs, family sessions, and location portrait shoots. Each month, he attended professional photographers’ meetings and conventions with his parents, Nelson Sr. and Charlotte. “I grew up with some of the best photographers in New York and the country. I was so lucky to learn from some of these pioneers.”

Nelson has photographed thousands of weddings, schools, and families over the past 35 years. During college, he traveled from Buffalo, NY, to Syracuse, NY, to photograph weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs on weekends. Photography financed his college education while he continued to learn the craft.

Nelson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York College at Buffalo in 1988. Soon after, he joined his parents in their photography business and worked with them until their passing, helping build the family’s success. He has belonged to many professional organizations, including the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), the Professional Photographers Society of New York (PPSNY), and the Georgia Professional Photographers Association (GPPA).