Today we’d like to introduce you to Rashad Tarpley.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Yes and thank you. My name is Rashad Tarpley and I’m the founder and photographer of R.A Images (R.A Images LLC). My journey into photography really started when I was younger. I remember when my mom bought me my first camera. It was one of those ones that you bought and it had the film in it and you had to take it to get developed. I remember taking so many random photos, but I was in my own world.
I’ve always been drawn to the idea that a photograph can do more than simply capture what someone looks like, it can capture who they are, what they represent, and the story behind them.
In 2023, I took that childhood memory and established R.A Images LLC. The name and philosophy behind my work are centered around creating images that feel real and authentic. I want to photograph the real you and I want you to see you the way the world truly sees you. So what started with simply wanting to become a better photographer gradually grew into opportunities I never imagined.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph everything from portraits, headshots, and community events to fashion, theater, editorial work, and commercial branding. One of the biggest milestones in my journey was photographing New York Fashion Week with Runway 7 and seeing my photos on billboards in Times Square. That moment was truly everything.
Outside of that, I’ve worked with organizations and brands throughout Hampton Roads, covered productions with Virginia Stage Company, served as a lead/editorial photographer for Savvi Kids Magazine, worked with Operation Homefront, and had some of my work and experiences featured on the news in my area.
But the biggest evolution for me has been realizing that I don’t just want to take great pictures, I want to help people and businesses tell their stories. That realization pushed my business toward commercial branding and professional headshots, where I can combine creativity with helping entrepreneurs and businesses present themselves confidently and authentically.
The journey hasn’t happened overnight. A lot of it has been learning through experience, networking, taking chances on opportunities, and constantly challenging myself. I’m still growing, but when I look at where I started compared to where R.A Images is today, I’m proud that something I was passionate about has developed into a business that allows me to create, connect with people, and leave something meaningful behind through my work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I definitely wouldn’t say it has been a smooth road, but I also wouldn’t change much about the journey because the difficult parts have shaped the photographer and business owner I am today.
One of my biggest challenges was realizing that being talented behind the camera and running a successful photography business are two completely different things. You can create amazing work, but you still have to learn how to market yourself, price your services, communicate your value, build relationships, manage clients, and ultimately turn creativity into a sustainable business. There were times when I questioned whether I was charging too much, charging too little, or whether people truly understood the value of what I was offering. And if I can be honest, I still struggle with this sometimes.
Another challenge has been finding my identity as a photographer. I’ve photographed a little bit of everything throughout my journey into the business and those experiences were important because they helped me discover where I truly wanted R.A Images to go. Today, I’m much more intentional about building the business around branding, headshots and commercial photography while still taking on projects that allow me to tell meaningful stories
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
R.A Images LLC is a photography company built around something very simple: creating images that feel real, authentic, and intentional. Today, I specialize primarily in branding photography, professional headshots and commercial photography for the everyday professional.
For me, branding photography is about much more than taking a nice picture. I want to understand the person or business in front of my camera. What do you represent? Who are you trying to reach? How do you want people to feel when they see your brand? Once I understand that, my job is to translate it visually.
I think I’ve become known for being versatile while still bringing my own perspective to the work. My background includes fashion, editorial photography, events, theater, portraits, and community storytelling, and each of those experiences has influenced how I approach commercial and branding work today. Fashion taught me to pay attention to presentation and detail. Events taught me how to anticipate moments. Editorial work taught me how to tell a story. I now bring all of those elements together when I’m creating for a client or brand.
What I’m most proud of, though…..I’m proud of how far R.A Images has grown and the relationships I’ve been able to build along the way. I’ve had opportunities to photograph celebrities and be featured in New York Fashion Week. Working with Virginia Stage Company and capturing their amazing and talented productions on opening night. I was given an opportunity to serve as a lead/editorial photographer for Savvi Kids Magazine and then from there actually work with the military’s non-profit Operation Homefront as well as some of the most amazing and influential organizations and business in my area. Those opportunities mean a lot to me because many of them came from relationships, referrals, and people trusting me with their stories.
What sets me apart is the experience I try to create before I ever press the shutter. I don’t want someone to simply show up, take pictures, and leave. I want to know their vision. I want the person who says, “I’m not photogenic,” to walk away feeling confident and amazing about themselves. I want the business owner who has an idea but doesn’t know how to visually communicate it to feel like we figured it out together.
That’s really where the name R.A Images comes to life for me: Real. Authentic. Images.
I’m not interested in making every person or every brand look the same. I’m interested in finding what makes them different and creating imagery around that.
At the end of the day, I don’t just want people to look at one of my photographs and say, “That’s a great picture.” I want them to feel like the image actually says something about the person, the business, or the story behind it. That’s the standard I’m continuing to build R.A Images around.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
From the beginning I’ve had the honor of having mentors and photographers that I can glean from. The main photographers that have helped my craft and get me to this level would be a woman named Abbie Knights of C12 Media. She taught me my settings and wasn’t afraid to tell me that my photos sucked. I would not be where I am if it was not for her. Stephen Pezzuulich was the one who taught me about lighting and the mechanics behind setting the right exposures. Lastly, I wouldn’t be here if it was not for my wife Tiffany Tarpley. She was the main inspiration and cheerleader that pushed me to start my business and when those dark nights came, she would not allow me to give up or give in
Pricing:
- $325 for standard 1 hour sessions and you’ll get 25 edits
- $250 for a 30 minute session and you’ll get 15 edits
- $75 for headshots
- $125/hr for event photography
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.realauthenticimages.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raimagesllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/r.aimages
