Billy Black Photographer

What Billy Black Photographer does

Billy Black Photographer is a privately held, sole-proprietor-style marine photography studio headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (84 Hedly St), operating since approximately the early 1980s. The firm provides professional still photography and video production services for the yachting and sailing industry, organized around four core service lines: charter brochure photography for yacht charter companies; advertising photography for boat manufacturers including Hinckley, Beneteau, Morris, MJM, Kadey-Krogen, Regulator, Vanquish, Hunt, Grady White, and Gunboat; sailboat racing event coverage (Newport to Bermuda, Key West Race Week, Atlantic Cup, Eggemoggin, St. Barts Bucket); and video walkthroughs and promotional content. Supplementary offerings include construction/refit documentation for shipyards, photo editing, scenic New England and real estate photography, an Etsy print-sales storefront, and niche collections such as Dogs and Hinckley Pilot imagery. The team consists of principal photographer Billy Black, co-producer/wife Joyce Black handling worldwide shoot planning and production, and assistant Allison Barrett — a total of three to four people.

The business model is project-based professional services, with custom proposals scoped per engagement (no standardized public pricing). Work is sourced through 40-year industry relationships, word of mouth, and direct outreach via phone (401.965.7565) and email ([email protected]); ancillary consumer revenue comes from one-time print sales on Etsy. The go-to-market combines a portfolio website (top-of-funnel, content marketing) and direct client engagement (mid- and bottom-of-funnel enterprise work). The company's competitive position rests on four decades of marine specialization, an extensive referenceable body of work across major yacht brands and racing events, and entrenched multi-decade client relationships — particularly with Newport Shipyard (20+ years), Nicholson Yachts, and a roster of premium yacht builders. Geographically, shoots are executed globally from a single Rhode Island base, with documented activity in New England, the Caribbean, the Southeast US, and international racing venues.

Underlying technology is conventional professional photography and videography equipment (cameras, lighting, post-production editing tools) used for marine subject capture; the firm offers in-house professional editing and delivers curated, organized assets across print and digital channels. The business is privately held with no parent company, no external funding, and no public listing. No awards, patents, regulatory actions, or M&A activity are documented in the available sources.

Name

Billy Black Photographer

Legal name

Billy Black Photographer

Website

https://billyblack.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Billy Black Photographer is a Portsmouth, Rhode Island-based marine photography studio providing charter brochure, manufacturer advertising, sailboat racing, and video production services to the global yachting industry, led by principal photographer Billy Black with a small core team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portsmouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Photography Services: Custom photography services for yacht charter brochures, advertising campaigns for boat manufacturers, sailboat racing events, yacht construction documentation, and marine industry projects. Pricing based on project scope, travel requirements, and deliverables.
2. Print Sales: Sale of photographic prints through Etsy online store. Prints offered in various sizes (8x12, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30, 30x40) on archival paper, canvas wrap, and metal prints. Custom sizes and materials available upon request.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Billy Black Photographer is a marine and yacht photography studio that delivers custom still photography and video production for charter yacht companies, boat manufacturers, sailboat racing events, shipyards, and individual yacht owners. The studio also sells finished photographic prints on archival paper, canvas, and metal through an Etsy storefront, operating globally from its Portsmouth, Rhode Island base with 40 years of specialized marine experience.

Product overview

Billy Black Photographer is a professional marine photography studio offering photography services primarily for the sailing and yachting industry. The business operates a portfolio structure with four main service categories: Charter Brochures Photography (professional yacht photography for charter marketing), Advertising Photography (boat manufacturer advertising campaigns), Sailboat Racing Coverage (event photography for regattas), and Video Production (walkthrough videos and promotional content). Additional services include Photo Editing (post-production enhancement), Prints (archival prints available for sale), Construction Photography (shipyard documentation), Real Estate Photography, Dogs Photography, Scenic New England Photography, and Hinckley Pilot Photography. The company serves clients globally from its base in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, with 40 years of industry experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charter Brochures Photography Professional photography of charter yachts capturing interiors, exteriors, and lifestyle imagery used in marketing brochures and promotional materials for charter companies and private yacht owners.
• Advertising Photography Advertising photography for boat manufacturers and marine brands including Grady White, Hylas, Argonaut, Bavaria, Prestige, Gunboat, Jeanneau, Fairline, Sabre, Back Cove, Hinckley, Beneteau, Catalina, Hunt & Surfhunter, Kadey-Krogen, Morris, Regulator, MJM, and Vanquish.
• Sailboat Racing Coverage Event photography coverage for major sailboat races including Newport to Bermuda, Key West Race Week, Atlantic Cup, Big Boat Racing, Eggemoggin Reach Regatta, and St. Barts Bucket, used for event promotion and archival purposes.
• Video Production Video walkthroughs and promotional videos for yachts and marine vessels, including boat walkthroughs, event coverage, and marine industry video content.
• Construction Photography Photography documentation of boat construction and shipyard projects, including new builds and refits at facilities such as Derecktor Shipyards, Lyman-Morse, and Front Street Shipyard.
• Real Estate Photography Photography services for luxury real estate properties, including waterfront homes and coastal estates.
• Scenic New England Photography Scenic photography of New England coastal regions, harbors, lighthouses, and landscapes.
• Photographic Prints Sale of photographic prints on archival paper, canvas wrap, and metal prints in sizes 8x12, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30, and 30x40, available through the Etsy store BillyBlackPrints with custom sizes and materials on request.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Grady WhitecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor advertising photography client for Grady White boat manufacturer. Ongoing relationship for advertising campaigns including photography of boats for catalogs and promotional materials.
• HinckleycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegular advertising photography client for Hinckley yachts. Multiple projects documented across various Hinckley models and services.
• BeneteaucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvertising photography services for Beneteau boat manufacturer. Captured various models including Beneteau Figaro 3.
• Morris YachtscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOngoing advertising photography relationship with Morris Yachts. Multiple shoots documented across various Morris models including M52, M50, M42, M36, M29, and OS48GT.
• MJM YachtscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegular advertising photography client for MJM Yachts. Multiple projects documented including MJM 50Z, 40Z, and 35Z models.
• Kadey-KrogencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing advertising photography relationship with Kadey-Krogen. Multiple yacht models documented including Kadey Krogen 50, 55, and 58.
• Regulator MarinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvertising photography services for Regulator Marine boats including Regulator 23 and 25 models.
• Vanquish BoatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvertising photography relationship with Vanquish Boats. Multiple models documented including Vanquish 24C, 26, 26RA, and 23 Center Console.
• Hunt YachtscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegular advertising photography client for Hunt Yachts. Models documented include Hunt 72, 44, 36, 33, 32CC, and Hunt Harrier models.
• Front Street ShipyardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-term relationship documented through video production and photography of shipyard activities, refit projects, and events. Video produced on shipyard's 485-ton boat hoist.
• Lyman-Morse BoatbuildingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConstruction photography documented at Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding facility in Thomaston, Maine. Captured construction projects and mast/rig installation.
• GunboatcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvertising photography relationship with Gunboat. Factory documentation at Wanchese, North Carolina facility.
• Hodgdon YachtsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConstruction photography documented at Hodgdon Yachts facility in East Boothbay, Maine.
• Brooklin BoatyardminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaintenance and activity photography documented at Brooklin Boatyard in Brooklin, Maine.
• Rockport MarineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWork documentation photography at Rockport Marine facility in Rockport, Maine.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Getty Images: Getty Images is a major global stock photography agency that licenses marine and yacht imagery. Not a direct service competitor, but represents an alternative way for marine businesses to source yacht and marine imagery, particularly for editorial, lower-budget, or stock applications where bespoke shoots are not required.
• Shutterstock: Shutterstock is a major global stock photography and footage marketplace. Comparable to Billy Black only in providing marine imagery to business customers, but operates at scale via a contributor model rather than bespoke principal-led shoots, making it a substitute for non-premium marine content needs.

Emerging players

• Peter Aaron Photography: Peter Aaron Photography is a high-end commercial photography studio specializing in luxury architecture and properties. Comparable business model to Billy Black in serving premium commercial clients with bespoke, principal-led photography services and global shoot logistics, though focused on architecture and interiors rather than marine subjects.

Direct peers

• Jim Raycroft: Jim Raycroft is a marine photographer credited alongside Billy Black's imagery in source data. Directly comparable as both are US-based marine-focused commercial photographers serving the yacht industry with editorial, advertising, and event photography for manufacturers and sailing organizations.
• Onne van der Wal: Onne van der Wal is a renowned Dutch marine photographer specializing in sailing yachts, superyachts, and marine subjects worldwide. Directly comparable to Billy Black as both operate in the niche commercial marine photography space serving yacht owners, manufacturers, and charter companies globally with bespoke principal-led shoots.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PhotogapherForSail
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/billy-black-photography

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Billy Black Photographer