On Assignment for NBC News

NBC News reached out to me recently and asked me to cover a church service in Atlanta.  This was a great assignment where I had to be patient and hunt for the images.  The congregation was very thin at the beginning of the service, but eventually filled in.  By the way, I live for hunting images.  I love when the image isn't there waiting for you.

I've recently been focusing on my portrait work more and more as I shoot assignments.  Portraits in this kind of situation are tough, because I sometimes only have a few minutes with a subject.

I had to quickly walk around and find different places to set up the portrait shot.  I settled on one before the service and kept my eye out for where I would shoot the second portrait. I spent about two minutes with Pastor Billy Honor before the service and then another two minutes following the service.

On this particular assignment, I was covering a black church's reaction to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump becoming President-elect Donald Trump.  The first shot is of church member Octavia Jones reacting as Pastor Billy Honor was preaching that  "IT'S TIME FOR HEAVEN TO START RAISING HELL. YOU HAVE TO BE DILIGENT AND KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN. I WANT YOU TO SPEAK UP. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD."

It was at this moment that worshiper Octavia Jones jumped out of her seat and spread her arms in front of this beautiful stain glass window and began to shout.

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Octavia Jones reacts as pastor Billy Honor preaches during a church service at Pulse Church, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta. Branden Camp / for NBC News

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Billy Honor, pastor of Pulse Church, poses for a portrait following a worship service at his church, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta.Branden Camp / for NBC News

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Pulse Church congregants holds hands during a service, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta. Branden Camp / for NBC News

I was struck immediately by a man wearing a "Black Lives Matter" shirt in a church.  No religion, no politics, right?  Here we had religion and politics clashing together.

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D'Andre Mayberry enters Pulse church before a church service, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta. Branden Camp / for NBC News

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A woman prays during a church service at Pulse Church, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta. Branden Camp / for NBC News

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Congregants listen as pastor Billy Honor preaches during a church service at Pulse Church, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta. Branden Camp / for NBC News

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Billy Honor, pastor of Pulse Church, poses for a portrait before a worship service at his church, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta.Branden Camp / for NBC News

2016 Election Day Coverage

I woke up ready to document what would end up being a very historic and unexpected election day.  I started my day in suburban Silver Creek, Georgia and ended in Buckhead at a very jubilant Republican watch party.  I started my day around 11 AM and ended well after midnight. Though exhausted, I'm grateful for a job where I can document history.

Ted Cruz Campaigns in Georgia

There are many times as a freelance photojournalist that I don't get hired to cover assignments, but I go anyways.  It's important to me that I document history even if I don't have the luxury of getting paid to do it.  Covering Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz was one of those "self assignments."  Cruz made a campaign stop north of Atlanta, Georgia in the city of Kennesaw.  He met with press before the event and then made his way over to an airplane hanger to speak to supporters.

Donald Trump Campaign - On Assignment For The Associated Press

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Macon Centreplex, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, in Macon, Ga.  (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

A man, silhouetted against an American flag, hands out tickets to people to see Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak at a campaign rally, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015 at the Macon Centreplex in Macon, Ga.  (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

People hold up signs as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump walks on stage during a campaign rally at the Macon Centreplex, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, in Macon, Ga.  (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

Former Macon Mayor C. Jack Ellis protests outside of the Macon Centreplex in Macon, Ga. where Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is set to hold a campaign rally.  (Ap Photo/Branden Camp)

A man is silhouetted against the sky, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015 at the Macon Centreplex in Macon, Ga. where Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is set to hold a campaign rally .  (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Macon Centreplex, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, in Macon, Ga.  (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

Election pins of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sit on display before a campaign rally, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015 at the Macon Centreplex in Macon, Ga.  (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump signs autographs after speaking at a campaign rally, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015 at the Macon Centreplex in Macon, Ga.  (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

On Assignment for Boston Globe

With the presidential election drawing closer, more and more assignments are focused around presidential candidates and campaign rallies.  

The Boston Globe asked me to go to Ellijay, Ga. to photograph Ted Cruz supporter Joe McCutchen.  I ended up spending the whole day following McCutchen around town.  McCutchen believes Cruz will win the Republican nomination through talk radio as well as small business owners coming together to promote Cruz.  After spending the day around town, we ended the day with a quick portrait session at his home.  Here are the photos from my assignment.

Joe McCutchen, supporter of Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, poses for a portrait at his home, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Ellijay, Ga. BRANDEN CAMP FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

Joe McCutchen is reflected in the window of a local business that is promoting Republican presidential candidate Tex Cruz, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Ellijay, Ga. 

Joe McCutchen carries an election sign promoting Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Ellijay, Ga. BRANDEN CAMP FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

Joe McCutchen, supporter of Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, is reflected in a mirror while visiting City Barber Shop in downtown Ellijay, Ga., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.  BRANDEN CAMP FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

Joe McCutchen, supporter of Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, laughs with his barber Marcelle Lowry at City Barber Shop, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Ellijay, Ga. BRANDEN CAMP FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

A man reads a newspaper while he waits to get his hair cut at the City Barber Shop in downtown Ellijay, Ga. BRANDEN CAMP FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

Joe McCutchen, supporter of Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, shouts "Cruz for President" after eating lunch at Poole's BBQ, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Ellijay, Ga.  McCutchen and other supporters hope to host a visit from Ted Cruz at Poole's BBQ in early 2016. BRANDEN CAMP FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE