Staff
Morris Abernathy
After completion of his Graduate studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Abernathy was named Director of Photography where he served for twelve years. While at Southwestern he and co-workers at LifeWay Christian Resources, the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board started the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Held on the Campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, this Conference brings together both students and professionals in the field of photojournalism for a weekend of fellowship and inspiration. Abernathy went to Nashville, TN., where he was the photographer at LifeWay Christian Resources, then after two years of freelance he went to Union University in Jackson, TN., where he has served for the past five years as staff photographer.
Bill Bangham
Bill Bangham is a photojournalist, writer and editor from Richmond, Virginia. He serves as director, Media Production: Editorial, photography and Video, for IMB (International Mission Board) where he is also editor of CommissionStories, and International Bureau Chief for Baptist Press news service. In the past he has served as editor-in-chief, theCommission, associate editor, MissionsUSA, and editor, World Mission Journal.
His work in photography, writing and design has been recognized with major awards in both secular and religious competitions, including Pictures of the Year International and National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism competitions.
He is a founder of the American Belarussian Relief Organization, a non-profit agency that assists children exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Bob Carey
Bob Carey's passion for photography began in high school and has spanned over four decades. His love for capturing moments in time lead him to a career in photojournalism, and for the past 12 years, he has dedicated himself to developing photographers.
As chair of the Department of Communication Studies at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C., Carey shares his passion with students. He also serves as President of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) and serves on the board of directors of Christians in Photojournalism.
Stanley Leary
Stanley Leary converted his hobby of people watching and his compassion for people into a career. Leary honed his skills at local papers, colleges and the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Stanley is a prominent freelance photographer based in Atlanta, GA. He currently serves as Visual Consultant for Chick-fil-A. Stan is represented by the Black Star agency.
Stanley loves to share his expertise and teaches widely. He has taught photography and the business of photography at such diverse places as University of The Nations in Hawaii, Reinhardt College, Waleska, GA, Berry College in Georgia, Portfolio Center in Atlanta and at Dallas Baptist University. He has been a guest lecturer at World Journalism Institute and the Southwestern Photojournalist Conference in Fort Worth, Art Institute of Atlanta, the Atlanta Chapter of the ASMP and the Southeastern Photographic Society.
Leary’s work has appeared in Newsweek, Business Week, Sports Illustrated, Wired, Chicago Tribune, NY Times, World Book Encyclopedia, Information Week, Popular Mechanics, Technology Review, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, and many other publications.
Stanley is married to Dorie Griggs and they have three children.
Matt Miller
Whether skydiving at 12,000 feet or scuba diving at 100 feet below sea
level, Matt Miller will have a camera in his hand. Matt’s photography has
carried him to over 40 countries around the world, where he’s covered major
sporting events, natural disasters, and unreached people groups. Blending
formal training, personal experience, and a love of Christ, Miller teaches
visual-storytellers to treat each assignment as an opportunity to invest in
the people you meet.
Serving as Director of Photography/Videography for Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary and Southwestern News, Miller leads a team that blends
still photography with multimedia. Matt views images as invaluable storytelling tools for advancing the Gospel. Miller’s work has appeared in countless magazines and newspapers worldwide, and his freelance clients range from local brides to major multinational corporations.
Jim Veneman
The director of visual communication at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., Jim has been involved with photojournalism since joining his high school publications staff. Before coming to Union he was photojournalist for LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville. He leads workshops on photojournalism and directs news-photo operations across the country and internationally, and he continues to shoot assignments. While at Union, Veneman has covered the days immediately following 9/11, Iraqi war, meetings with Fidel Castro and other assignments in Asia, Australia and Kenya.
