In the West Michigan Is Going Places series, we are talking with local business owners and community leaders about their business successes and challenges and highlighting the resources available in the West Michigan business community.
In this interview, we spoke with Russ Climie of Tiberius Images, a Grand Rapids–based corporate photography company that helps organizations tell their story through professional, brand-focused visuals.
RM: Tell us a little about what your business does and how it got started.
Russ Climie: I run Tiberius Images, a photography company here in Grand Rapids. We work with businesses, associations, and events to create images they can actually use to promote what they’re doing.
I started back in 2004. At the time it was just me, figuring things out and taking whatever jobs I could get. Over time I started working more with businesses and events, and that’s when the business began moving. I realized I speak business. I understand events, promotion, and marketing, so it became a natural fit.
How has your business changed since you first started out?
Russ Climie: In the early days, I was doing a bit of everything. Weddings, families, anything that came my way.
Now we’re focused fully on the B2B side. Events, headshots, and long term clients who bring us back multiple times a year.
We’ve also built the business around three core ideas. Speed wins. Be the easy button. Always give more in value than we take in payment.
That’s led to things like delivering images during events instead of days later, and building systems that make it simple for clients to actually use what we create.
What makes you passionate about what you do?
Russ Climie: I like seeing clients have success because they’re able to amplify their message and their business with images that actually reflect who they are and what they do.
When photos show up on LinkedIn, websites, and marketing the same day, you can see the impact right away. It’s not just a photo at that point, it’s a tool they can use immediately.
That’s the part I enjoy most.
How has being here in West Michigan helped your business?
Russ Climie: West Michigan is very relationship driven, and that’s been a big advantage for how I work.
I think about it like kayaking on Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids. If you go out there day after day, over time you start to recognize people. You get to know families, their kids, what they’re into, because you keep coming back and seeing them again.
That’s very different than kayaking around Lake Michigan where you might pass a house once and never see it again.
West Michigan feels more like Reeds Lake. You see the same people, build trust over time, and those relationships turn into long-term opportunities.
What’s your approach to customer service and connecting with the community?
Russ Climie: It really comes back to being the easy button.
Clients already have a lot going on. My role is to make this part simple and predictable for them. Clear communication, fast delivery, and no surprises.
On the community side, a big part of my work is being able to step into a lot of different organizations and nonprofits and see what they’re all about. I get a front row seat to how they operate, what they care about, and how they serve others. Then I move on to the next event or organization and do it again.
Sometimes I’m even able to make connections between people or organizations that end up helping both sides.
Over time, that adds up. You stay connected, you see patterns, and you build relationships across a lot of different groups without forcing it.
How do you plan to grow or adapt your business for the future?
Russ Climie: We’re continuing to build around speed and usability.
The faster clients get their images, the more likely they are to use them. So we’re investing in systems that make delivery faster and make it easier for clients to take action right away.
We’re also focused on working with more organizations on an ongoing basis instead of one off projects.
Are there any local organizations or networks that have been particularly helpful for you in building your business?
Russ Climie: Saint Mary’s Foundation was my first long term nonprofit client, and that relationship has led to a lot of great introductions over the years. They have so many people coming through their doors and supporting what they do, which naturally creates connections.
In addition, organizations like the Council of Michigan Foundations and the Economic Club of Grand Rapids have been important as well.
Being part of groups like these that consistently bring people together has helped me build long term relationships and stay connected to the community.
