by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Many years ago, if you wanted a portrait by a professional photographer, you came Downtown.
It’s been a few years since there was a full-service studio in the urban core, but that changed this week when Rakiyah Cook opened Natural Light Photography at 205 N. Laura St. at the Elks Building.
Cook approaches her art not so much from a purely technical standpoint, but from the reasons people want to have photographs of themselves and loved ones.
“Most people have a concept in their mind of an image they’d like to create. The idea is to allow people to have an outlet for their creativity. Sometimes it can be hard to find a photographer who can take your idea and turn it into a photograph,” she said.
Like many people who have made photography a career, Cook discovered her love for capturing images at an early age, in her case, when she was 10 years old on a trip with her godparents.
“They took me on vacation with them to Paris and let me use their camera. It was an Olympus 35 mm. I took some beautiful pictures of them and after that, I was hooked,” she said.
“What fascinated me was being able to catch a moment in time. I could see something and then it would go away, but I still had it in my camera.”
Cook has a complete studio
setup for portraits and other styles of indoor photography. She also has an unusual take on wedding photography. A notary public, she can provide a service beyond just taking pictures of the bride and groom.
“I’m a one-stop shop. I can officiate and then take the pictures. If a couple gets here and they’re ready to go, they can be out the door in half an hour,” she said.
Instead of selling individual prints, Cook charges for studio time and her expertise by the hour and sends the newlyweds home with a CD of their photographs.
“I’m a photographer, not a printer. People can take their disc with them and make all the copies they want,” she said.
Part of her business plan is providing what she calls “theme pictures” for adults and children.
“I’m calling it my ‘Fantasy Series.’ Kids can dress up like pirates or fairies and I’ll shoot them against a green screen then put their image over a background. I’m also planning a fishing series. I love theme pictures because it lets people enjoy having their picture taken,” said Cook.
Eventually, Cook said she plans to offer retail products such as picture frames, including digital, and memory cards for cameras. The studio space also has a long wall Cook said will be perfect for artists to exhibit their work.
She’s planning to conduct classes on basic photography, digital cameras and lighting for people who’d like to improve their skills, and also offer workshops for the photography community to gather, share ideas and see new products and techniques.
As for her choice of address, Cook said she was inspired to open her studio Downtown after coming to know the neighborhood.
“I was going to the library all the time. I’ve always wanted to be in a place like this and I decided this would be a great location because The Next Gallery is right next door,” she said.
Cook photographs anyone from babies to senior citizens and books studio time in half-hour and full-hour increments. She offers a discount for police officers, firefighters and military personnel.
To make an appointment, call 638-9747 or text to 904-414-0559. To view some of Cook’s work and for studio hours, visit www.nlpjacksonville.com.
354-2466