Photographer builds business around love of nature

For Bryan Baron, photography is more than a business. It is a way to connect with nature, find calm and share the beauty he sees with others.

Baron is the owner of Double B Photography, a business he started after discovering a passion and a talent for capturing the outdoors through his camera lens. His work features wildlife, reservoirs, birds, landscapes and quiet moments in nature, often taken during long hikes and photography outings across Rhode Island and beyond.

“I like to take photos of nature, landscapes and wildlife,” Baron said. “I enjoy being outside; it’s calming.”

Photography has also given Baron the opportunity to build a business of his own and connect with the community through craft shows and farmers markets.

Asked what made him want to become a business owner, his answer was immediate: “My own boss.”

Baron sells his photos at craft shows, farmers markets and local businesses. His work has been displayed at Red White and Brew Coffeehouse, Jack’s Pizza and Pub, Orchard Grill, Harmony Products and other community locations.

One of his favorite parts of participating in craft shows is meeting people who connect with his work. “Meet new people every day,” Baron said. “They tell me about the pictures.”

A business built around nature

Megan Pace works with Baron throughout the week, helping prepare for shows, plan photography outings and support his goals while making sure the business remains centered on Baron’s vision.

“I do a lot of the framing, getting ready for craft shows. I support him at all of the crafts shows that we do, farmers markets,” Pace said.

The pair spend much of their week exploring trails, reservoirs and scenic destinations in search of wildlife and landscapes.

“I spend four days a week with him on the weekdays and we do hiking, we go out to different destinations to find certain pictures if we hear about a certain bird that’s somewhere,” Pace said. “We’re all over the place.”

Baron especially enjoys photographing water and wildlife. “I like to take pictures of the water, the reservoir,” he said. Patience is a big part of the process in photographing birds and animals, as their outings often involve long stretches of waiting quietly in nature.

“Some of the places we go to for calming time, where we are trying to catch maybe a bird,” Pace said. “The other day we saw a green heron. We sit on the still water reservoir a lot; it’s under a bridge and it’s very calm and he’ll sit there for over an hour and sometimes we’ll see hawks and eagles, green herons and things like that.”

Sometimes those moments become memorable stories themselves. “I sunk in the snow once and I took a picture,” Baron said.

Other favorite destinations include Jamestown, where Baron searches for lighthouse shots and other scenic views, and the lotus pond in North Kingstown.

“I like bald eagles,” he said. Sometimes he spots them close to home in a barn near his home in Smithfield.
And if he could travel anywhere in the world to photograph something new? “I would go to New Hampshire,” he said.

Behind the camera

Throughout every outing, Pace says the focus stays on Baron’s interests and artistic choices.

“It’s always about, ‘What do you want to take pictures of? What are you passionate about? What do you want people to see?’” Pace said.

She emphasized that Baron is always the one behind the camera and behind the creative decisions.

“He’s the one taking the picture, he’s saying like, ‘Stop, there’s a dragon fly. I need to get this shot,’” Pace said. “We always constantly make sure this is what you want to do, you still want to do this, this is your business. And he always wants to do this.”

Pace describes her role as providing encouragement and helping Baron build confidence and independence.
“I’m all about independence,” she said. “He just needs a little encouragement. A lot of times, it’s just encouraging those positive reinforcements. He likes to be told that he’s doing a good job.”

Their strong working relationship developed over years together. Pace first began supporting Baron when she worked as a teacher assistant and later continued working with him through adult services, eventually becoming both his job coach and direct support professional.

“I enjoy what I do because Bryan’s funny, he’s easygoing, he takes advice really well,” Pace said. “We became best friends, so giving advice so it doesn’t seem so ‘staff/client.’ We’re kind of almost like family.”

From talent to business

Baron’s photography journey began after he took a photography class with an instructor who recognized his talent immediately.

“After a couple of weeks, he called Bryan’s parents and said, ‘Stop everything you’re doing and start a photography business for Bryan, because he has the eye,’” Pace recalled. “And that’s just exactly what we did, and that’s how it started.”

Baron and Pace participated in the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Self Employment business classes, where they learned marketing strategies, social media skills and how to grow the business while connecting with other entrepreneurs.

“We learned a lot about marketing and how to really catch people’s eyes on Facebook and what we needed to do with Instagram,” Pace said. Members of the cohort also meet weekly over Zoom and at local businesses to network. “Just the community aspect, I would say, is everything for us.”

As Double B Photography has grown, so has the community response to Baron’s work. Pace said some people are shocked to see his work. “They ask me if I took the pictures, or if his dad took the pictures and when I say, ‘No, it’s this guy right here; he’s the photographer’ they’re usually like, ‘Wow, oh my goodness, I can’t believe it; you take excellent photos.’”

Baron continues to expand his business while spending time doing what he loves most: being outdoors with his camera, waiting patiently for the perfect shot.

“I always say I help Bryan live his best life and that’s just my role here,” Pace said. “I’m just trying to help him have the happiest life he can possibly have.”