Roger Elliott

Owner/Photographer

About

I’m a veteran-owned photographer based in Northern California, focused on landscape work and portraits that feel real, not overproduced. After 27 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, I came into photography with a different mindset. I’m not chasing trends or building something artificial. I’m paying attention to what’s already there, whether that’s the quiet along the California coast or the way someone carries themselves when they’re at ease. My landscape work is rooted in patience. I spend time with a place, watching how the light shifts, how the weather moves through, and how a scene settles into itself. I’m drawn to the quieter moments, the ones most people drive past. Those are the images that tend to stay with you. On the portrait side, I work one-on-one with individuals, families, and professionals who want something more honest than a standard session. I keep things simple and grounded so people don’t feel like they’re stepping into a production. That’s especially true with my Generational Portraits, where the focus is on slowing things down and creating space for real connection. Those sessions are about presence, not posing. I also created River Town Portraits, an ongoing personal project centered around the people who make a place what it is. Shop owners, neighbors, baristas, people you pass every day without thinking twice. Natural light, real environments, no setup. Just a moment that already exists. My background in service shaped how I work. I show up prepared, I pay attention, and I respect the people and places I photograph. That carries through whether I’m out on a hillside before sunrise or working with someone who’s never been in front of a camera before. Prints are available across multiple formats including fine art paper, canvas, metal, and acrylic. For portrait clients, I also offer heirloom albums and printed work meant to last, not just sit on a phone. I hold a BFA in Documentary Photography from the Academy of Art University and continue to refine my work through graduate study. That work pushes me to stay honest in what I’m making and why I’m making it. Everything comes back to the same idea. Pay attention. Keep it simple. Let the image hold onto something true. If you’re looking for work that feels like you, or a piece of California that brings you back to a place you know, feel free to reach out. ~Roger

Country

United States

City

Petaluma

Industry

Photography

Skill

Photographic Lighting, Documentary Photography, Instructional Design, E-Learning, Learning Management, Portrait Photography, Fine Art Photography, Event Photography, Digital Photography, Photography, Military, Analysis, Command, Performance Management, DoD, Program Management, Military Operations, Government, Wedding Photography, U.S. Department of Defense

Experience

Owner/Photographer

Roger Elliott Photo

2014-6 - Present · 12 yrs 4 mos

Sonoma County, California, United States

Small Business Owner

Roger Elliott Photos

2014-5 - 2026-4 · 12 yrs

Petaluma, CA

• Manager of social media accounts, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. • Experience with WordPress, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), keyword research & Google Analytics. • Published lifestyle & documentary photographer; The New Asterisk & Houzz.com. • Solid computer experience within MS Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom CC & Classic CC. • Excellent technical abilities with strong knowledge of Canon & Olympus brands & lighting. • Seasoned professional with multiple lifestyle, documentary and portrait sessions.

Instructional Designer

U.S. Coast Guard

2012-3 - 2015-9 · 3 yrs 7 mos

Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma

• Expertly facilitated the curriculum design & development process for Coast Guard Human Resources Technical Training School (Yeoman). • Identified opportunities for blended-learning approaches allowing for more instructor-student time in the classroom. Also, developed 24 specific employee performance support systems (job aids), for CG Human Resources applications, including compensation and benefits, disciplinary actions, health and safety, and CG policies. • Effectively worked with senior leadership and produced 36 valid & reliable Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for a new course dealing with multiple CG Human Resources policies affecting employee benefits.

Performance Analyst

Harkcon, Inc.

2011-5 - 2012-3 · 11 mos

Petaluma, CA

• Successfully increased operational efficiency for USCG River Vessels and evaluated operational risks of river buoy maintenance protocols. • Multi-tasked and provided recommendations in functioning roles to eliminate skill & performance gaps. • Mentored and was responsible for recognizing appropriate organizational, leadership & management interventions.

Health Services Curriculum Course Chief

U.S. Coast Guard

2005-8 - 2011-4 · 5 yrs 9 mos

Petaluma, CA

• Managed a six-year effort to re-design Health Services Technician “A” School Course, by guiding the creation of 85 task-specific job aids complete with screenshots to accommodate visual learners. • Worked as Course Chief and Senior Trainer, taught up to 500+ students in Pharmacy, Medical Administration, Clinical Sick Call, Wound Repair, Sterilization Technique, and Clinical Services following authorized Command and Headquarters Training Programs policy and directives. • Provided after-hours study halls, often identifying those struggling and providing extra one-on-one or small-group coaching to increase chances of success.

Education

Academy of Art University

Documentary Photography

Boise State University

Instructional and Performance Technology

2008 - 2011 · 3 yrs

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Workforce Education, Specialty in Training & Development

2003 - 2008 · 5 yrs

Villanova University

Project Management

Academy of Art University

Photography - Documentary

2014 - 2016 · 2 yrs

Academy of Art University

Documentary / Fine Art Photography

2014 - 2017 · 3 yrs

San Francisco State University

e-Learning Design & Development

2018 - 2018

The E-Learning Design and Development Certificate Program provides students with the knowledge necessary to create and manage e-learning programs across industries. Topics include instructional design principles, content development and e-learning usability testing. The use of technology has become so important in today’s world that high schools, colleges, government organizations, nonprofits and businesses use e-learning to educate, train, inform and coach. Students may take individual courses or take all seven to earn the E-Learning Design and Development Certificate.