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Dan McClanahan

@danmcclan

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Creating bold images that honor your awesome 📸
Commercial / Portraits / Weddings (booking links in bio)
6 x Team USA 🇺🇸🏆
📍 Ames, IA

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A modernized homage to Richard Avedon’s iconic 1981 portrait “Ronald Fischer, beekeeper” (if you don’t know it, consider looking it up your homework assignment).

Our brave model was the singularly incredible @thegingermaneman and our bees were provided by @andrewstephenson and @amyalittlebit , who graciously let me set up this studio in their backyard.

Be sure to scroll the post for plenty of BTS from BFAM @marklooney and photographs made in both flash and natural light. In an internet increasingly saturated with AI garbage, I’m increasingly drawn to documenting real life experiences with real humans. I hope you can feel the difference 🫶🏼 taken in Ames, Iowa by @danmcclan

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10 months ago

“Thousands of years ago, in an alternate universe where Elon Musk was never born, The Silver Starlighters cruise the cosmos in their retrofitted Cybertruck. In the name of unrelenting curiosity, they quest to explore uncharted galaxies and to look damn good doing so. Retirement has never been so interstellar.”

A teaser from our latest personal project! Subscribe to my new substack (link in bio) to get emailed when I publish this full image set + a load of BTS (lighting setups, what was captured in camera vs modified in post) + my wisdom on pursuing personal work 🛸 taken in Ames, Iowa by @danmcclan

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a year ago

Just a couple of friends doing what we love 💪🏻📸 taken in Iowa by @danmcclan

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3 years ago

18 years today, but we’re just getting started 💘

Wedding photo (second slide) by @joeycrimmings 🤘 by @danmcclan

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6 days ago

Katelyn & Joon 🏍️👩‍❤️‍👨

If you and your boo don’t scooter together, you’re not doing it right! taken in Ada Hayden Heritage Park by @danmcclan

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7 days ago

New personal work! Our friend @abowlofgrice let us borrow her old hair dryer to make this retro yet modern salon themed photo using 7 lights and a gray seamless roll - swipe for variations, BTS, and gear deets. The smoke is coming from a Smoke Ninja but I couldn’t find them to tag so you’ll have to google that the old fashioned way 😜

Styled by @thegingermaneman
Modeled by @marleighheil
Photographed by @danmcclan

For the record, we don’t endorse smoking but it sure did help visually complete the theme 🚭

Lastly, hi to all our new friends from the Godox video! taken in McClanahan Studio by @danmcclan

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10 days ago

Photographer @danmcclan shares his portrait techniques—shooting with the sun behind the subject. Backlighting adds texture, natural hair light, and depth to the image. Dan first exposes for the background, then adds flash to bring the subject back into the scene.

Using the powerful AD800Pro with a 4-foot Octabox, he creates soft, high-end lighting even under the midday sun. To add extra depth and mood, he shoots from ground level and uses the backlit grass in the foreground to frame the portrait.

Model:@marleighheil
Gear: AD800Pro & S120T

#Godox #S120T #AD800Pro #PortraitPhotography #LightingTips by @danmcclan

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a month ago

Mr. And Mrs. Drew // 5.30.26 taken in Talons Of Tuscany by @danmcclan

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2 months ago

Randall pets formal portrait: 2026. Swipe for the 2020 version to see how Koala has grown! taken in McClanahan Studio by @danmcclan

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2 months ago

A few senior portraits of the entrancing @blackbeltballerina in CY Stephens 🩰🥰 Class of 2027 hit my link in bio if you want to create together! taken in Cy Stephens Auditorium by @danmcclan

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

It’s wedding month! Time to share some favorite frames from Molly & Connor’s engagement shoot ♥️ taken in McClanahan Studio by @danmcclan

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3 months ago