By Eric McDaniel

While walking around Collegiate’s campus, you have definitely seen Upper School photography teacher Taylor Dabney and his work. Dabney has been at Collegiate since 2004, but the professional freelance photographer, born and raised in Richmond, traveled all over the world before he found his way back home.

Dabney grew up west of the Boulevard in a Fan neighborhood once known as the Devil’s Triangle. He attended Westover Elementary, Southampton Elementary, Bon Air Elementary, and Huguenot High School. He received his BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) from Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York. At Pratt, he originally studied foundation art, graphic design, and visual communications. His interests later shifted into photography, with an interest in animation and commercials.

Dabney spent four years in school in Brooklyn and then stayed in New York City for another two years. Eventually tiring of city life, Dabney escaped to a family cottage in Vermont in late spring of 1974. Unfortunately, professional New York City photographers tended to migrate to Vermont, resulting in very minimal photography opportunities in Vermont. As a result, Dabney worked at a summer camp, and he taught environmental education. 

A job opportunity at the Valentine Museum brought Dabney back to Richmond in November of ’74, Dabney started off in film, putting together a short film on the Richmond Heritage Square. He later drifted into mainly photography. In the late 1970’s, as Dabney became better known in the Richmond area, he received many jobs as a photographer for local magazines. Dabney expanded becoming a photographer for many local publications and eventually became chief photographer for Richmond Lifestyle Magazine. 

In the 1980, Dabney’s sister, Mary Dabney, who received her PhD in archeology, was working on the Kommos Excavations on the south coast of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea, and the project was in need of a photographer. . For twenty-five years, Dabney worked as a professional photographer on archaeological excavations in Greece. Dabney met his future wife Julia E. Pfaff, a graduate of the University of Toronto, on the excavation.

Photos from Dabney’s Portfolio Greece

In addition to his jobs in magazines and museums, Dabney has photographed a variety of different subjects; his website contains portfolios on Greece, art, teenage mothers, and jewelry. 

From Dabney’s Portfolio Teenage Mothers.

Photo from Dabney’s Portfolio Jewelry.

In 2004, Collegiate was in need of a new photography teacher. The chair of the Visual Art Program at the time, Alice Massie, knew Dabney from his time at The Valentine. With his background in photography, visual arts, and education projects, Dabney was her choice to take over photography at Collegiate. At Collegiate, Dabney has implemented landscape, portrait, abstract, and many other projects with students. He also does a scavenger hunt with students, giving out Gelati Celesti gift cards as prizes.

Heth Alexander (‘21), who has taken multiple photography classes  with Dabney, said “Mr. Dabney is without a doubt one of my favorite teachers in this school. His ability to connect with students is unparalleled, and his knowledge of the many aspects of photography is second-to-none.”

Dabney’s favorite part about being a photographer is “all the people I get to meet. I love finding ways to tell their stories or document their art with photographs.” At Collegiate, Dabney said, “The best part is the students I get to know.  I love seeing the images they produce.” 

All photos by Taylor Dabney.