Alison Shaw Photography is located in an upstairs loft space above our gallery at 88 Dukes County Avenue, in the heart of the Arts District in Oak Bluffs. In case the gallery’s not open, ring the doorbell around the side of the building, and we’ll be happy to invite you in and show you the gallery and studio space. Or call ahead to make an appointment (508) 693-4429.
Sue Dawson, Co-Owner
Sue runs the gallery, does our design, writing, marketing, and consults in all areas of the business. She and Alison co-teach the Mentorship programs, and she often participates in the Intensives. Sue has designed a few of Alison’s books, and other client projects as well. A graduate of Smith College (1984), she also has an M.A. in publication design from the University of Baltimore/Maryland Institute of Art. After just over a year at the Vineyard Gazette (where she and Alison met in 1986), Sue was the art director of a chain of weekly newspapers in the Boston area. She then spent seven years as a designer at The Boston Globe, and later a couple of years as the art director for Martha’s Vineyard Magazine. Sue loves working with people, and is usually seen behind her desk in the gallery just as you walk in. She’s also our resident klutz (her word), so she tries to stay clear of prints in process upstairs. Sue and Alison live in Edgartown, and have two adult children and two kitties (Lucy and Lambert).
Claire Cain, Studio Manager
Claire has worked at Alison Shaw Photography since the fall of 2001. She manages the daily operations of the studio, including printing Alison’s images, maintaining inventory, matting and framing prints, and handling card, poster, and print orders. She’s a crucial part of our team, consults on many of our important decisions, and brings an artist’s eye to her work. Claire graduated from Loyola College in Maryland with a BA in Communications. She worked in the printing industry in Boston for several years before relocating to Martha’s Vineyard. She doesn’t miss a day at the gym, and loves following pro/college sports and being on her boat. She and her husband live in Vineyard Haven with Riley, their cocker spaniel.
Carol Collins, Framer
Carol has framed all of Alison’s large prints for over 25 years. She is an expert framer, and an artist who spends every spare moment in the garden. She shares her love of pro sports with Claire – the two of them know more about teams and strategy than anyone else we know. She also holds a razor blade in her teeth while working (keeps it handy). Carol lives with her partner, a fine art photographer, in Vineyard Haven.
David Marx, Lightroom Tech Coach
David is an Adobe Certified Expert with two decades of experience teaching digital photography. He provides one-on-one remote technical support and training for photographers to master Lightroom setup and workflow efficiency. Based in northwest Montana, where he lives with his wife and dog, David channels his passion for the outdoors into personal projects like time-lapse photography, and his addiction to skiing. He also mentioned his “ongoing feeble attempts to teach myself Japanese.” Alison first met David over 20 years ago, before Lightroom even existed. She spent a week in Missoula studying Photoshop with him, and says “he’s an amazing teacher, and total rock star.” Find his Adobe Lightroom video tutorials on YouTube, and www.focusphotoschool.com.
Rob Skinnon, Mentorship Website Coach
Rob is an experienced web developer who’s available to work closely with our Mentorship students, guiding them through the process of building their own websites. He’s an accomplished photographer and has been involved in Alison and Sue’s programs since 2013. With over 20 years at The Walt Disney Company, his expertise spans both creative and technical fields. Rob’s photography and professional projects can be explored on his website, www.robskinnon.com. Frequently found on Martha’s Vineyard, he combines his love for the island with his passion for exploring and capturing images, making him a versatile and invaluable asset to our team.
Wayne Smith, Workshop Co-Teacher
Wayne has taught MV workshops with Alison since 2015, and has been her good friend for a lot longer. After getting a degree in psychology, he moved to Boston to attend the New England School of Photography. For more than 35 years, he was a photographer and rep for John Holt Studios and Dock25 in Boston. Wayne has photographed commercial and editorial assignments, architecture, weddings, portraits and fine art. He’s an avid gardener (including bonsai), chef, fisherman, golfer, tinkerer and loves spending time on his boat. He also has a big heart, and loves teaching and connecting with students. He’s lived in West Tisbury since 1998. www.waynesmithphotography.com
Ray Avitable, Workshop Co-Teacher
Ray has been assisting Alison during her Cape Cod workshops since 2018. He was once described as “an artist in an engineer’s body.” This combination enables Ray to work on the technical aspects of creating unique images in the field and with Adobe Lightroom Classic, while also helping students to see beyond the scene. He enjoys sharing his love of Cape Cod’s beauty and is a natural and enthusiastic teacher. Ray is a Master Artist at the Cape Cod Art Center and has won numerous local and national awards for his work. Ray and his wife Claire, along with their two pups, moved to the Cape in 2013 and thoroughly enjoy the slow-paced lifestyle. www.rayavitablephotography.com
Claire portrait by Eli Dagostino