EP #83 How A Single Camera And Grit Built A Thriving Local Photography Brand

A single Black Friday camera and a lot of grit—Tyrone Brown’s path with Clean Images proves you don’t need the fanciest gear to build a real photography business. We invited Tyrone to share how a college side project turned into a trusted Fredericksburg brand, why he still centers photography over video, and what it takes to capture both intimate portraits and large community events with clarity and heart.

We dig into the practical stuff aspiring photographers ask about: how to start with limited equipment, the myth of “must-have” gear, and the systems that make a small operation feel professional. Tyrone walks through his workflow from inquiry to delivery, explains why consistent communication beats flashy tech, and breaks down how he covered events like Treats on the Street and Art Attack for the Fredericksburg Visitor Center. Along the way, he offers a candid look at social media—how perfectionism can stall momentum, and how sharing visible growth builds trust with clients and fans.

Beyond the craft, we talk community and sustainability. Tyrone’s YouTube interviews spotlight local artists and creatives, creating a network where collaboration drives discovery. He also shares how moving to Fredericksburg, exploring downtown spots, and prioritizing self-care help him stay present behind the lens. If you’re launching a photography business or refining your brand, you’ll leave with clear, actionable insights on storytelling, client experience, and building a reputation that lasts.

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Tyrone Brown

Clean Images

Youtube: @TyRango 

Instagram: clean.images

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors
Podcast, the place where localbusinesses and neighbors come
together.
Here's your host, Dori Stewart.

Speaker (00:13):
Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors
Podcast, where we share thestories of our favorite local
brands.
I have a special guest joiningme today.
We have Tyrone Brown with CleanImages.
Tyrone, welcome to the podcast.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Thank you.
I appreciate it.

Speaker (00:32):
I'm excited to dive in.
I want to learn all about youand I want to learn about your
business.
So let's start there.
Share with us a little bitabout Clean Images.

Speaker 2 (00:44):
Um, Clean Images.
Well, I am Tyrone.
I started uh Clean Images, mybusiness about six years ago in
South Carolina while I was incollege with a partner that I
had.
Um she was in the reserves anduh we just bought a camera on uh
Black Friday, $500 a piece, anduh we just we started from

(01:08):
there and uh we was doing likequintinettas and traveling to
like uh Atlanta, North Carolinaand stuff like that.
And um, once uh therelationship ended, I just kept
going forward.
I was uh doing the shooting andthe editing and stuff, and she
was uh uh giving the clients andwhatnot.
So it was just easy for me tokeep going.

Speaker (01:28):
Nice.
So tell me what is yourspecialty?
What kind of I are you uhstrictly events?
Talk to me a little bit aboutyour offerings.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
Um, well, I kind of do I don't like to put myself in
a box.
Uh I kind of do likepersonalized portraits, but I
also currently work for thevisiting center here in
Fredericksburg, which I doevents.
Um, I just did the uh treats onthe street and um uh the art

(01:59):
attack and stuff like that.
So I kind of do a little bit ofboth.

Speaker (02:02):
Nice, nice.
And is it um all still imagesor any video or combination?
Tell me about that.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
I have the capability, obviously, but um I
my passion is strictly withphotography.
Um I have a YouTube channelwhere I interview um artists and
creatives and stuff like that,where I do interview, but um,
for my Instagram for my cleanimages, it's just strictly
photography.

Speaker (02:29):
Very cool.
And so have you already alwayshad kind of an artistic eye?
What kind of drew you to thatBlack Friday moment of buying
the the camera?

Speaker 2 (02:41):
Um I guess kind of like I said, um uh when I was in
college, I had my degree inbusiness management marketing.
So I guess I I did we weretalking about what we can do,
what what were we bothpassionate about at that time?
And um, I guess it was justkind of easy to do to anybody
can buy a camera.
So um yeah, it was just I Iguess I always had an artistic

(03:03):
view, but uh yeah, I guess thatthat's just a route that we
took.

Speaker (03:07):
Gotcha, gotcha.
That that's um really smart,and you have the business and
marketing background to help youwith the business side, so uh
clearly you've got that leftbrain, right brain thing going.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah.

Speaker (03:20):
Awesome, awesome.
So are there any myths ormisconceptions that you find
about the industry?

Speaker 2 (03:28):
No myths or misconceptions.
Uh one of them I can think ofis like uh people think you have
to have like expensive gear ora whole bunch of gear or the
newest, latest stuff.
Um, I recently just bought mysecond camera in February of
this month.
And like I said, prior to that,I started in 2019.
So I had camera that entiretime.

(03:49):
And uh I I definitely I've shotuh Olympic medalists, um, a
whole bunch of businesses andjust things like that with that
one camera.
So um I think that's amisconception that people have.
You have to have the newest andall the highest quality stuff,
and especially with me anyway.

Speaker (04:07):
Yeah, yeah.
So if someone came to you andsaid, Hey, I love what you're
doing, and I'd love to get intothis and start my own
photography business, whatadvice would you give them?

Speaker 2 (04:22):
I would say just do it.
Um, start it and uh go fromthere.
But uh social media definitelyis uh it can be a hindrance for
sure.
So I would just say uh kind ofget a grip on that and just say
just stay focused and just doit.
Uh people try to um controleverything and they want

(04:44):
everything to be picture perfectand all this stuff.
But you I feel like themistakes and the growth when
people see that.
Well, for me personally, I liketo see the growth and I'm
saying where people weren't asgood because the progression is
that's beautiful to me.
So everything doesn't have tobe a hundred percent correct,
and you know what I'm saying.
I that's just that's just myopinion.

Speaker (05:04):
Yeah, you can learn it as you go, but also people rally
around you and they they seeyou growing and they want to see
you succeed.
So it's kind of fun to have youknow your your loyal fan base
kind of following you along andcheering you on as you as you
grow and they can see thatprogression.
It's kind of cool.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
I agree.

Speaker (05:25):
So when you're not working hard and um with in your
business, tell me what are youdoing for fun?

Speaker 2 (05:33):
For fun.
Uh like recently moved toFredericksburg, maybe like a
year ago.
But I like going downtown.
I like going to Benny's orgetting a slice of pizza with a
friend or going to Anita's.
Um I like to go see a movie.
I love foodie.
Downtown, the foodie, therestaurant.
I love that place.
So um I just like to focus onself-care and self-love, and

(05:57):
there's those times when I'm uhnot working.

Speaker (06:01):
I love that.
It's so important.
And so fun to, you know, be newin town and explore all the new
places.
I love that.
What is something that you wishthe listeners knew about clean
images?

Speaker 2 (06:17):
Um, something that they knew about me.

Speaker (06:21):
What do you wish they knew?

Speaker 2 (06:24):
Um, I wish they knew how passionate that I am about
art and photography, and it'svery important to me.
Um I just appreciate it somuch.
I appreciate other artists.
Like I said, um my YouTubechannel where I've done over 40
interviews, uh, differentartists, different individuals,
and just showcasing their art.

(06:44):
And it's just one of myfavorite things to do, and I
love it.

Speaker (06:48):
Amazing.
If the listeners want toconnect with you, check out your
YouTube channel or work withyou, where can they find you?

Speaker 2 (06:57):
Um my Instagram is clean.images.
Very simple.
Uh, my YouTube is Ty T Y R A NG O, Tyrango, and um yeah,
that's where they can find mefor right now.

Speaker (07:11):
Amazing.
Well, Tyrone, thank you so muchfor joining me on the podcast
today and sharing Clean Imageswith us.

Speaker 2 (07:19):
Yes, ma'am, thank you.
I appreciate the opportunity.

Speaker 1 (07:22):
Sure.
Thank you for listening to theFredericksburg Neighbors
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to FXBGNeighborsPodcast.com.