D-Ray ~

D-Ray Archer
What photographer do you know good enough to make a career out it? Well if you don’t know you need to know about D-Ray Archer. Representing the Bay Area, California, the West Coast and all between, D-Ray has been there done it when comes to photographing some of the music industries hottest and biggest artists and entertainers: Jay Z, Gwen Steffani, Usher, Mary J. Blige, the late James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and the list goes on and on.
D-Ray got into photography just as a hobby while working “regular” jobs as a fancy cake decorator for a major food store chain then becoming one of the Top 3 Sales Managers for Express clothing store. The reward for achieving this goal was bonus checks so getting money was not a problem. With some extra cash saved up she purchased her first professional camera. “I started taking pictures of subjects like my family and friends that would let me,” D-Ray says with a hint of humor. “I did babies then I went into couples and weddings. When I went to Hawaii I got the opportunity to shoot waterfalls and flowers, and now I do homes for contractors.” As time progressed she realized this was growing beyond a hobby and decided to take it to the next level.
The Bay Area’s prominence in music was on the rise (again) and artists were dropping albums out the woodworks especially rappers. You had Mac Dre putting Thizz Entertainment on the forefront, Keak The Sneak and 3 x’s Krazy with major label status, and there was underground freestyler Mistah F.A.B. along with established cats like E-40 and Too-Short. With her husband’s connection at Showcase Magazine where he was working, D-Ray was introduced to the publisher and editor, and immediately they were impressed by her knowledge of photography and the music business. Since Showcase was a hip-hop magazine competing with the likes of The Source and XXL, this was the opportunity to prove what she could do. Little did anyone know this was the beginning of a long journey but that in the process she would change the picture-taking game.
Word got out that D-Ray was the one to see if needed press photos, a photo shoot for an album cover or just because you thought you looked good in front of a camera. For those that don’t know D-Ray reps not only the female gender but for Latina’s as well which is a big deal by business standards. Sometimes good looks can leave doubts but she’s fought the haters and critics with hard work and a creative eye for her subjects giving them their own personal look.
Thru time all the Bay artists have been shot by D-Ray for their album, posters or other material used for promotion. Showcase allowed D-Ray to network her way to Hollywood to shoot events like red carpet affairs for the Soul Train awards, Source Awards, Billboard, the Grammy’s, and private parties for Eminem, Terri J. Vaughn, and Warner Brother records. Often labels will invite her to come out and be the exclusive photographer for their event.
In the last 3 years her status has soared as the personal photographer to rap artist Mistah F.A.B. She shares a close relationship with him remembering a time when he was once a freestyle rapper early in his career. Her photos used for all his publicity and performances demonstrated her work. Since then F.A.B. has become a fixture on BET and MTV, and now has a major label deal at Atlantic records.
The Bay Area is fortunate to have D-Ray documenting many of the special moments during the time the Yay Area was getting “Hyphy” and its whole culture. MTV, BET and all the major magazines and newspapers wondered what this stunner was about. Her photos have been published in The Source, Vibe, XXL, Smooth, Murder Dog, The San Francisco Chronicle, and The Oakland Post to name a few. This has parlayed to her being crowned the West Coast photographer for Ozone magazine, and now has the duties of taking all the photos for editorial and special events. She’s also the official Thizz label photographer something the late Mac Dre would have made her. From time to time you might see her catching the Furley Ghost.
With all the hustle and bustle of meeting celebrities and traveling places you might think she’s, “Hollywood” but her reality check is caring for her grandfather suffering with Parkinson disease and Dementia amongst other things. If there’s one thing that keeps her humble it’s having to care for an elder. “My grandfather is named Ray and that’s my middle name,” speaking on the manly moniker. “People used to just call me Ray, I hate my first name so I just use the initial. They’re thinking I’m some big buff dude that’s gonna come in and it’s little me. I like having the mystery of my name.”
Between all this D-Ray mentors young men and women between ages 13-24 at Youth Uprising, a 25,000 square foot facility dedicated to uplifting the lives of young people. Located in the heart of one of Oakland’s toughest neighborhoods she’s got her hood pass with camera in hand getting these frowned-faced kids to smile. It’s gained her mad respect from those that probably don’t respect themselves. “I relate to these kids because I see their potential,” she says earnestly. “I want to see them come into peace with themselves and what they’re going thru. I don’t try to police them I listen rather then lecture.”
While some of us work at a job that we don’t want, D-Ray sets her own schedule. She’s a professional and the ideal example of someone who turned a hobby into a profession while cashing checks at the same time. “I want a restaurant serving some my favorite foods,” she laughs. “I want to publish a book of all the photos I’ve done, the movement I’ve been apart of. I hope all my photos carry me thru the rest of my life ‘cause I want to retire in 5 years.”
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