Revealing the best version of yourself

A person’s essence can be defined as a person’s fundamental nature: the quality or qualities that make a person what they are. We’ve discovered how to capture this by becoming the best photographer we can and putting our all into projecting your essence onto a photograph.

Get Started

Three Amazing Reasons To Book Us!

01

One Stop Shop

Looking for a photographer? But also looking for a videographer? Maybe even also looking for someone to take on your new website?

02

Here to Help

Most of the time when people come to us for a photoshoot or videoshoot typically they have an ideal of what they want but we're here to assit with that.

03

Design & Style

If you haven’t noticed already, our style is slightly distinguishable from most photographers. We lean more towards cinematic imagery.

Working with a professional photographer

As a professional photographer, it’s my priority to ensure that you have an overwhelmingly positive experience working with True Essence Photography. During your photo session, my team provides that your experience will fulfill your needs. Sometimes it’s our client’s first time working with a professional photographer and being in a studio environment. But at the end of their session, you would think by looking at the images that we’ve captured, they were professional and had been doing it all of their lives.

Questions?
Wedding Photography & Videography

When you've found your special someone, or even if they've found you. Your next step should be finding the perfect Wedding Photographer and or Videographer.

Graduation photographer and photography here at East Carolina University ECU
Graduation Photography

After all of the hard work, you’ve put into pursuing your career, what better way to remember it than having graduation photos taken.

black and red portrait artist session in greenville nc
Portrait Photography

Looking to have a few portraits taken? Even if it’s for your birthday, significant other, or even just because photos.

Creating Magic Out Of The Ordinary

Most of the time, our clients present us with the idea that they don’t exactly know how to bring to reality. But that’s where we shine when it comes to being a photographer. With most of our team being very technical, we’re able to recreate just about anything that you could imagine up. We also have many creatives to mix with our team’s technical aspects to add a little more spice to your already great ideal.


When starting a photoshoot, I’ve always made sure that our client knows that we aren’t going to pose you during their shoot directly, but more so direct you in a way that the image will still look like your natural self and not staged posses that everyone does typically.

Our Favorites
headshot photographer greenville nc

Commercial Photography & Videography

Trying to find more marketing tools for your business, either photography or videography?

kids and family photographer

Family & Kids Photography

Over the years we're became more accostumed to capturing photos on our cell phones, but when was the last time you had a professional capture your images?

materinty photographer and videographer

Maternity Photography

Expecting a special someone soon? What better way to capture those special moments than hiring a photographer? From the start to the end of the process. Even after your special someone has made it into the world.

Working with you as your photographer

We’re collaborating with you to make sure we capture the moments you’ll cherish for years to come. As your professional photography specialist, being a creative powerhouse is essential. Ultimately, we want you to go away from your photography experience, knowing with confidence that your session was utterly one-of-a-kind. You and I will become a brainstorming team starting with our first discussion. Consequently, we will ensure that your distinctive style, personality, and passions are reflected in each of your photographs from your photography session.

Learn More About Us

What Clients Are Saying…

★★★★★ 5/5
"Dontavious is an amazing photographer! He has an eye for creativity! He is efficient! He also has an amazing studies. He genuinely knows his craft and I would completely recommend him to anybody that needs a photographer! Whether it is graduation, headshots, family, videography/photography for covering an event, Dontavious does it all and is the best man for the job!"
Tyrell Clemons
black headshot photographer here in greenville, north carolina
★★★★★ 5/5
"I highly recommend True Essence Photography! I recently had my professional photos taken and I'm blown away by them. The session was great and I had lots of fun. The studio is in an accessible location and spacious. Dontavious demonstrates a high level of professionalism and attention to detail. I'll definitely be back again and considering having him do my corporate leadership team photos in Charlotte. I highly recommend True Essence Photography! I recently had my professional photos taken and I'm blown away by them. The session was great and I had lots of fun. The studio is in an accessible location and spacious. Dontavious demonstrates a high level of professionalism and attention to detail. I'll definitely be back again and considering having him do my corporate leadership team photos in Charlotte."
Meeka O'Neal
black family photographer in greenville north carolina
★★★★★ 5/5
True Essence Photography did an amazing job with my 6 month old photo shoot. The pictures and overall experience was great. I get constant praise and compliments on the photos. If you are looking for quality service and amazing photos. Please do not hesitate and miss out on memories!
Brandon Harding

Our #1 Priority

My priority as a photographer and a videographer, first and foremost, is to capture moments that truly matter. Those raw fleeting moments sideline the highlights. To me, it’s not just about the pictures. It’s about the feeling. 

 

 

If you’re just looking for a guy with a fancy camera, you’ve come to the wrong place. I want to capture all of the messy, authentic, in-between moments. Not just photos of your first dance with your dad. But pictures of the tears on your mom’s face when she watched the two of you. I am not the right photographer for everyone, which is 110% ok.

 

A traditional bride deserves a conventional photographer or videographer. My couples? They’re the adventurers. The laid-back, live-for-the-moment kind of people. If you’re the bride who gets her dress dirty and doesn’t even bat an eye because you’re so lost in the fun and magic of the moment, then let’s do this thing! 

Book Us