Overview

Dylan M Howell is an American wedding and commercial photographer based in Donnelly, Idaho. He began his photography career in Boise and subsequently worked in Portland, Oregon, before returning to Idaho. Howell's work emphasizes documentary coverage, natural light, spontaneous emotion, and film-influenced color. [1] [2]

As of 2026, Howell’s official biography states that he had photographed more than 400 weddings. He has also worked in photography education and search-engine optimization for photographers. [2] His professional recognition includes selection as one of Rangefinder magazine's 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography in 2014, along with recognition in the 2015 Rangefinder Annual Competition and Junebug Weddings' Best of the Best. [5]

Photography career

Big Sur elopement photographed by Dylan M Howell
A Big Sur elopement photographed by Dylan M Howell. Photo by Dylan M Howell, via Wikimedia Commons

Howell studied business management at Boise State University and began photographing weddings in Boise. In a 2016 interview, he described himself as intensely introverted at the beginning of his career and said that photography helped him become more comfortable working closely with people. [3]

After traveling to Portland for a photography assignment, Howell relocated to Oregon and worked there for approximately a decade. He later returned to Idaho to be closer to family, establishing himself in Donnelly and serving the McCall area. [2]

  1. – Studied business management at Boise State University.
  2. Co-owned Sara K Byrne Photography in Boise.
  3. Joined Stocksy United and was named a Rangefinder Rising Star.
  4. Established Dylan M Howell Photography as an independent studio.
  5. Worked as an SEO consultant for Stocksy United.
  6. Partner at the photography SEO project Fuel Your Photos.
  7. Present Photographer and farmer based in Donnelly, Idaho.

Style and approach

Howell describes his approach as centered on unposed emotion, natural interactions, and spontaneous moments. He commonly uses natural light, unconventional perspectives, and color influenced by analog film. He also brings film cameras to many assignments. [2]

“I capture the real vibes of the day. The unposed and genuine emotion. The spontaneous and heartfelt moments.”

In his JPEGmini interview, Howell explained that the phrase “aim for the heart” refers to making images in which the people depicted can recognize and feel their relationships. He also described photographing continuously through a scene rather than waiting for a single theoretically perfect moment. [3]

“I try to shoot through moments instead of playing Henri Cartier-Bresson. The penalty for missing an important moment that won't happen again on a wedding day is too high.”

Stocksy United

Howell joined the photographer-owned stock-media cooperative Stocksy United in 2014. In addition to contributing photography, he later joined its photo-editor team and reviewed incoming work for possible inclusion in the cooperative's collection. [6]

From 2017 through 2019, Howell also served as an in-house SEO consultant for Stocksy, a role distinct from his photographic and editorial work. [5]

Photography education and SEO

Howell's photography career has included teaching search-engine optimization and online marketing to photographers. He was a partner at Fuel Your Photos from 2019 to 2024 and has discussed topics including keyword research, website architecture, local search, backlinks, analytics, and image optimization. [5]

Howell appeared on The Bearded Tog in an episode devoted to SEO for photographers. The episode's accompanying material described organic Google searches as generating more than half of his wedding inquiries at the time discussed. [4]

Speaking and workshops

Howell has been listed as a speaker, teacher, or participant at photography and web-industry events including WPPI, Mystic Seminars, Field Trip, Heck Yeah Photo Camp, Kadence Amplify, Canada Photo Convention, BodaF Madrid, Wolves Workshop, WRKSHP Brooklyn, and Be Here Brazil. [2]

A 2016 interview stated that he had delivered six conference presentations during that year. Howell discussed public speaking as a deliberate response to his introversion and emphasized the preparation involved in teaching. [3]

Awards and recognition

  • 2013: Fearless Award.
  • 2014: Selected for Rangefinder's 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography.
  • 2015: Photograph selected for the Rangefinder Annual Competition.
  • 2015: Photograph selected for Junebug Weddings' Best of the Best.
  • 2025: 14 Best Wedding Photographers in the Pacific Northwest by Junebug Weddings.

Howell's work has also been identified as appearing in Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, Green Wedding Shoes, and Junebug Weddings. [2]

Farming and current life

Howell lives in Donnelly, Idaho, where he operates a small no-till farm in addition to his photography practice. His official biography describes the farm as producing four-season vegetables without tillage, chemical pesticides, fungicides, or chemical fertilizers. [2]

References

  1. Dylan M Howell — official website .
  2. About Dylan — official biography .
  3. Some Photographers Shoot People, Dylan Howell Aims for the Heart — JPEGmini Blog, December 8, 2016.
  4. SEO for Photographers with Dylan Howell — The Bearded Tog, May 15, 2024.
  5. Dylan Howell — professional profile — LinkedIn.
  6. Dylan M Howell — archived website — WordPress.