Dave Marks was born and raised in Pine Bluff Arkansas. After finishing High School, he attended Arkansas A&M college, now known as The University of Arkansas at Monticello. After one semester of college, Dave realized that he was not ready for the college life.
Dave decided it was time to serve his country and consider a military lifestyle. This was during the Vietnam War and Dave, being a self-preserving individual, asked “who has the least number of men in Vietnam? Answer, the Air Force.” Dave joined the Air Force and attended basic training in San Antonio, Texas. Advanced skills training caused Dave to be transferred to Biloxi, Mississippi. Two key things happened in Biloxi to affect Dave’s life. First, he became involved with competitive Drill Teams. He became team leader and his team became the top Drill Team on Base. He learned about dedication and team work, both of which would be a continuing influence as his life progressed. The second thing to influence his life was Hurricane Camille. The strongest Hurricane in history to hit the Gulf coast came right through Biloxi Ms. The destruction from a 200+MPH hurricane is something that he’ll never forget. About two weeks into the clean up, Dave was transferred to San Angelo, Texas. After completion of his training, he was sent to Turkey. His love of Photography, Running and Snow Skiing all began in Turkey. Yes, Turkey does have mountains and some beautiful places to ski. Dave’s next service assignment was to Northern Japan. What a thrill! He actually had a ski hill on base and great snow skiing less than an hour away. While in Japan, his collection of Nikon camera equipment grew to resemble a small camera store. (He currently uses Canon Digital Cameras.) They also had a hobby shop on base with a great darkroom setup and his knowledge of photography expanded to a new level.
While in Japan Dave’s Father died of a heart attack. Shortly after, he was given an Honorable Discharge from the Air Force. He had served his country and made great strides towards growing up. Dave decided to try College again and enrolled at Ricks Junior College, in Rexburg, Idaho (Recently renamed BYU Idaho). He put his photo knowledge to work and became the Photo Editor of the yearbook and worked as the assistant to the school photographer. Dave took more photo classes and worked toward his Associates Degree in General Education. Dave transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and became a communications major. He was the Photo Editor of the yearbook his junior year and the Editor of the yearbook his senior year. Both yearbooks won awards from the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Press Association. Dave also won an award as “Most Creative Photographer at Brigham Young University.” His photos that were submitted to the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Press Association photo contest took First and Second Place in the “News and Sports Color Photography Category.” This photo contest covered a seven state area and included submissions from colleges and universities of photographs that had been published.
While attending “BYU”, Dave got married and they had a daughter, Dawn. After college, they left for Arkansas to open a photo lab, offering same day service (film dropped off by 10am was ready by 5pm.) This was before the equipment to do one hour film developing had been invented. The business, “The Film House” was doing well and they had another daughter, Tiffany. An illness in the family caused them to close the business and move back out west. Dave managed a lab in Jackson, Wyoming that catered to the walk-in customer and picked up from hotels at night, returning the film the next morning before the customer checked out of the hotel. While in Jackson, they had a son, Aaron. The skiing was great, but bigger things called. Dave returned to Rexburg, Idaho to manage the Photo Department of a large printing company that offer wedding announcements with color photographs.
Dave’s next change was to move out of the photo finishing production side of the industry and move into the service industry, serving photo finishers. He interviewed with Fuji Film and was hired to be a Field Service Technician. He relocated to Richmond, VA. where he currently lives. After two years with Fuji, he was awarded “Outstanding Service Representative” at a national meeting. They also had another son, Daniel. (Daniel currently is my partner in in dmfoto) He was later promoted to “Special Account Representative,” working with national chain accounts, like Wal-Mart, Sam’s and Costco. Dave was promoted to “District Service Manager” in the southeast region. His leadership ability and teamwork attitude helped guide the Southeast Region to winning the “Region of the Year” award for three consecutive years, 1997,98,99.
Dave now has six grandchildren. Three Grandson’s and three Granddaughter’s. Life is ever changing and now Dave is offering his service’s and experience to others as a professional photographer. If you want someone that can help you with your photographic needs, you should take advantage of this professional. It will be a decision you will be rewarded for. Call him now to set up an appointment.
Dave’s youngest son Daniel has joined the business and becoming a fantastic photographer, Daniel does wedding, bridal and engagement photography and all of the editing work on the wedding photographs.
Since Daniel has joined the business Dave Marks Photography has become dmfoto-llc. We specialize in Weddings and High School Senior Photography and in 2008 have expanded to include children and family photography to our menu of services.
Portrait done in our studio by window light