Capturing the Moment

C. T. Bauer College of Business photographer Kolby Delce-Haynes may be a man of few words, but behind the camera, he’s established a thriving career by telling stories.

Delce-Haynes' passion for documenting the moment started in a high school photojournalism class, but throughout those years, different hobbies came along, and photography was put on pause. However, the calling to the camera was something he could never fully shake.

In 2013, Delce-Haynes committed to teaching himself photography by watching YouTube videos. He quickly found community with other Houston photographers, often leaning on each other for support and advice. Years passed, and Delce-Haynes continued to perfect his craft, and finally, at a local art exhibition, his big break arrived.

“I would go out on the weekends, take pictures of cars, and post them online,” he said. “They got a lot of traction, and I ended up being a part of an exhibition called Houston Forever. From there it spiraled and one opportunity came from another.”

A milestone opportunity for Delce-Haynes was participating in a 40^th annual exhibit at the Houston Center of Photography. Amongst the art was Delce-Haynes' photo essay “Shear Elegance,” which told the story of his mother’s salon using his sisters and nieces as models.

Another career milestone Delce-Haynes experienced was turning photography into a full-time role in Bauer’s Office of Communications. As a Houston native, Delce-Haynes said working at the University of Houston is a dream come true.

“When I saw the opportunity open, I thought, oh, this is perfect,” he said. “Since working here, my favorite part has been engaging with the students who are interested in photography.”

In the short time he’s been at Bauer, Delce-Haynes has dived in headfirst, and spends his days taking photos of students, alumni, faculty and staff at a countless number of events. Whether he’s joining in program celebrations, or visualizing faculty research, he said it’s all about capturing the moment for years to come.

“When you look at images, no matter nowhere they’re from, it’s the storytelling that makes them powerful.”