Behind the Lens

David Bates is the owner and photographer for Fotografix Studio.

For Dave, being a photographic artist is much more than a great career; it’s a love built upon vision. To document a moment in someone’s life by vividly defining the subject in a way that will live on for generations is what fuels his creative passion. Dave’s bright, easy-going personality plays a major role in how comfortable his clients feel. Whether it’s your high school senior portraits, your modeling portfolio shoot, family portraits or your wedding, you can relax knowing he will provide a fun, stress-free photo session.

In the 1980’s as a high school Graphic Arts student Dave took a few photography courses and was intrigued, but Graphic Arts remained his primary focus. From 1989-1991, he earned a degree as a Graphic Arts major at Central Maine Technical College. While at CMTC, he had taken a few more photography courses as his skills and interest continued to evolve. In the fall of 1991, Dave enrolled as a Fine Art major at the Maine Photographic Workshops in Rockport, Maine. Through the intensive 2 year program at the workshops, his life as a photographic artist began to take on a real focus. Upon entering the working world, Dave began assisting for other photographers in the Portland area. In early 1995, he committed to getting into the business and founded Fotografix Studio. With hundreds of happy clients from years past, Dave brings the same energy and enthusiasm to his shoots that he brought 14 years ago.

Dave resides in Kennebunk, Maine. In his personal time, Dave enjoys traveling and the outdoors. Activities such as mountaineering, backpacking and sea kayaking are some of his favorites. In 2005 Dave’s family became members of the AMC New England Four Thousand Footers Club after they climbed the 67 recognized peaks in New England that are four-thousand feet or higher. In March 2009, they summited 19,340 foot Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. Future climbs include Denali, and destinations in The Andes, Europe and the Himalaya’s.