David Aldridge
Etna
Summary
Dynamic professional with 15+ years of entrepreneurial leadership, customer service excellence, and team management experience gained through building a successful portrait photography studio employing 4-8 full-time staff. Proven ability to lead teams, cultivate client loyalty, solve complex problems quickly, and deliver high-quality services in fast-paced, customer-facing environments. Strong interpersonal communication skills with a longstanding track record of positive client interaction, sales growth, and goal-oriented project execution. Bringing an additional 10+ years of full-time director leadership within the Church of the Nazarene, including youth and young adult ministry assignments in California and Ohio. Highly experienced public speaker, team builder, counselor, and international mission trip leader. Adept at recruiting and developing both volunteer and paid staff, fostering healthy organizational culture, and engaging diverse communities through relational leadership and clear communication.
Overview
44
44
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Owner, Lead Photographer & Executive Director
Studio 187 Photography
Etna
01.2010 - Current
- Built a full-service portrait studio from launch to sustained success, employing 4-8 full-time staff and serving thousands of clients.
- Established a strong customer-oriented culture focused on professionalism, rapid problem resolution, and exceptional client experience.
- Managed end-to-end operations, including staffing, sales, marketing, scheduling, client engagement, budgeting, and service delivery.
- Led teams on high-volume assignments, ensuring quality control, production consistency, and efficient workflow.
- Maintained long-term customer relationships through personalized service, transparent communication, and timely project execution.
- Certified Professional Photographer through Professional Photographers of America (PPA) since 2010.
- Oversaw training and onboarding of new employees, fostering skill development and team cohesion.
School Portrait Photographer & Subcontract Lead Photographer
Jostens, Inc.
Minneapolis
07.2024 - 11.2025
- Lead and trained photography teams for school portrait days, ensuring smooth logistics and high customer satisfaction.
- Engaged students, faculty, and administrators to support an organized and positive environment.
- Captured high-quality portraits for students and faculty at various school events.
- Managed equipment setup, maintenance, and transportation for photography sessions.
- Developed strong relationships with school staff to facilitate scheduling and logistics.
- Provided excellent customer service, addressing inquiries and concerns promptly.
- Ensured adherence to Jostens' branding standards in all photographic outputs.
Event Photographer
Dance Bug, Inc.
Niagra Falls
01.2024 - 07.2024
- Provided action and event coverage at dynamic, fast-paced dance competitions throughout the United States.
- Delivered consistent, high-quality results under pressure and shifting lighting conditions.
- Captured high-quality images during dance performances and events.
- Collaborated with event coordinators to understand photography needs.
- Managed photography equipment and ensured proper functionality.
Subcontract Photographer
Gahanna Lincoln High School
Gahanna
08.2007 - 06.2023
- Photographed sports, band, and portrait sessions for large student populations.
- Managed high-volume events with an emphasis on customer service, efficient workflow, and quality results.
- Captured high-quality images of school events and student activities.
- Maintained photography equipment to ensure proper functionality and readiness.
- Engaged with students and staff to create a comfortable shooting environment.
- Set up lights, backdrops, and props for shoots and events.
Director to Youth and Young Adults
Church of the Nazarene
09.1981 - 1998
- Led comprehensive youth, young adult, and family ministries, with responsibility for program development, teaching, communication, and outreach.
- Delivered weekly public speaking engagements, sermons, workshops, and large-group presentations.
- Provided adolescent counseling, crisis support, and confidential guidance to students and families.
- Recruited, trained, and supervised volunteer teams and part-time ministry staff.
- Designed curriculum for weekly services, small groups, camps, and retreats.
- Planned, organized, and led domestic and international mission trips, managing logistics, budgeting, safety, and cross-cultural coordination.
- Built community partnerships to support outreach activities and organizational growth.
- Managed administration, budgeting, scheduling, event planning, and long-term strategic development.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, OhioSkills
- Customer Service Excellence
- Image editing software
- Quality control
- Customer experience
- Client engagement
- Team leadership
- Problem solving
- Effective communication
- Team Leadership & Staff Development
- Relationship Building & Interpersonal Communication
- Problem Solving & Conflict Resolution
- Sales
- Goal Setting
- Client Engagement
- Public Speaking
- Presentation Delivery
- Organizational Growth
- Operations Leadership
- Volunteer Recruitment
- Training
- Management
- Counseling
- Mentoring
- Pastoral Care
- Project Management
- Event Coordination
- Cross-Cultural Team Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Program Development
- Photography
- Lighting
- Creative Direction
- Adobe Photoshop
- Lightroom
- Bridge
- Advanced Editing
- Conflict resolution
- Strong editing skills
- Client relationship building
- Color correction
Certification
Certified Professional Photographer, Professional Photographers of America (PPA), 01/01/10
References
- Rev. Newell Smith, Shepherd Church of the Nazarene, 610-389-3790
- Kathryn Harris, Gahanna Lincoln High School, 614-975-0437
- Hailey Karrick, Jostens, 513-292-5511
Websites
Timeline
School Portrait Photographer & Subcontract Lead Photographer
Jostens, Inc.
07.2024 - 11.2025
Event Photographer
Dance Bug, Inc.
01.2024 - 07.2024
Owner, Lead Photographer & Executive Director
Studio 187 Photography
01.2010 - Current
Subcontract Photographer
Gahanna Lincoln High School
08.2007 - 06.2023
Director to Youth and Young Adults
Church of the Nazarene
09.1981 - 1998
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Mount Vernon Nazarene University