about.
learn about rGRAYphotography and photographer Rudy Gray.
Overlooking Port Jefferson Harbor with access to a private beach and breathtaking sunsets, rGRAYphotography is a Long Island-based full-service photography studio specializing in dynamic, personality-driven portraits of athletes, high school seniors, teens, and professionals.
We don’t take ordinary photos — we create extraordinary photographic art.
Athletes. Seniors. Headshots. @rGRAYphotog
Who’s the man?
Hello there! 👋
I'm Rudy, a photographer and an artist. But above all, I'm a husband and a dad. Since 1996, I've been happily married to my best friend, Dara, and together we have the joy of raising three wonderful and loving young individuals: Dylan, Hayden, and Megan.
Photography isn't just my job—it's my passion. They say if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. And that's exactly how I feel when I am capturing those special moments in people's lives and turning them into beautiful images and cherished memories, whether in print or digital form.
I'm not one to stick to the ordinary or follow the “normal” path because, honestly, what is normal? I'm all about exploring new ideas, pushing boundaries, and creating fresh, unique looks that stand out from the crowd. Every client I work with is beautiful and totally unique, and that's why I'm dedicated to delivering something truly exceptional for each and every one of them.
Creating portraits that possess both artistic flair and timeless appeal is my aspiration. I strive to capture extraordinary images that exude modernity, fashion-forward aesthetics, and genuine emotion. Each photograph I take is meant to be expressive, dramatic, and leave a lasting impact on anyone who sees it. My ultimate goal with every client is to transform those fleeting moments into captivating visuals that resonate deeply and become treasured memories for a lifetime.
Influences & Inspiration
How it started.
My love for music photography began in high school in the 1980s when I first studied photography. I became mesmerized by the work of Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn, whose timeless images captured many of my favorite musicians and bands—The Killers, U2, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Morrissey, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, George Michael, and more.
Anton’s work is expressive, thought-provoking, and full of raw emotion. His influence sparked my passion for creating artistic and expressive imagery, as well as my deep appreciation for black-and-white photography. To this day, Anton Corbijn remains my greatest inspiration.
Sports x High School Seniors x Fashion.
Through my work with athletes, I have had the privilege of learning from some of the industry's finest, including James Quantz and Matt Hernandez. These exceptionally talented photographers are masters when it comes to capturing dramatic sports portraits and experimenting with lighting techniques. Their expertise extends beyond the art of sports photography into the broader world of commercial photography and the business side of our art, providing invaluable inspiration and guidance in my own journey.
In high school senior photography, staying "modern" and "trendy" requires a keen eye for styling, posing, and the creative use of color and lighting. To continually evolve and refine my craft, I seek inspiration from outstanding contemporary fashion photographers such as LIndsay Adler, Shannon L Sewell, Marina Williams and Mario Masitti.
By learning from these incredible artists, I continually push my creativity, refine my personal style, and elevate my work to provide my clients with modern, stylish, and high-quality portrait photography.
A New Path
Back in 2015, while I was working as a route delivery driver for a food service company, a workplace injury led to the discovery that I had developed lumbar degenerative disc disease. I was told by my doctor that the condition of my back will not allow me to do my job (or any job that required a lot of lifting) any longer.
So, while I was recovering and rehabbing from the injury – for over two years – I began investing in what I’ve always wanted to do, but never got the chance to do earlier in my life: portrait photography.
I took online courses and studied with professional photographer-mentors. I set out to be different than other local professional photographers. My early sports work caught the attention of the Comsewogue High School Varsity Boys Basketball coach, Joel Sutherland. He gave me the opportunity to create images for the team's media guide and their senior night posters, along with taking action shots at the team’s games. The senior posters for the boys basketball team were such a hit that opportunities from the other high school teams at Comsewogue and other schools came along the way.
My work with high school and youth athletes eventually led me to the work I was so eager to do: portraiture - the art of creating portraits.
Achievements
I am most humbled to have had my work published and featured in online and print media publications including Newsday, Times Beacon Record, Senior Year Magazine, Teen Years Magazine, Senior Style Guide, Modern Teen Magazine, SeniorInspire, seniorMUSE, Inspiring Teens, American Motorcyclist, Canon, Sequential, various other seniors-centric digital media platforms and music industry digital media.
Portrait photographer Rudy Gray is based in Port Jefferson, Long Island, New York, where he lives with his wife Dara and their three children.
Photographing athletes and dancers; high school seniors, teens and tweens; professional headshots and branding.
Port Jefferson, Long Island, New York.