Meet Jim Halverson: The Photographer Behind OC Yacht Shots

If you’ve spent enough time on the water in Ocean City, there’s a good chance you’ve seen him. Maybe you spotted the bright pink banner first. Maybe it was the equally bright pink shirt. Or maybe you noticed a man enthusiastically waving from the water, trying to get your attention as your boat cruised through the bay. That man is Jim Halverson, the photographer behind OC Yacht Shots—and chances are, if you waved back, Jim may have captured a professional photo of your day on the water.

Can Boats Take a Selfie?

For years, Jim became a familiar sight near the Ocean City Inlet, setting up his camera in a strategic location and snapping photos of everything from family pontoon boats and Jet Skis to charter boats, tiki boats and groups celebrating a perfect day in Ocean City.And the idea behind it all is simple. “You can’t get a selfie of your boat.”

A Photographer Inspired by the Open Road

Jim is completely self-taught when it comes to photography, and the idea for OC Yacht Shots came from a few unexpected places. While riding his motorcycle on a notorious back road near the Smoky Mountains, Jim noticed a photographer strategically positioned on a tight curve, taking photos of every motorcycle as it passed by. The location was perfect—riders rounded the curve and found themselves heading directly toward the photographer and a sign letting them know where they could purchase their photos.

Later, while on a sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands with his wife, Jim saw a similar concept happening on the water.

Combining those ideas with their love of photography and boating, OC Yacht Shots was born.

From the Pier to the Pontoon Boat

I recently had the chance to head out on the water with Jim and see what a day with OC Yacht Shots is really like.We left from West Ocean City, where Jim now uses a pontoon boat as his floating photography studio. And boy did I have fun!

Jim originally photographed boaters from land, including a private pier near Sunset Park in downtown Ocean City. The pier gave him a steady spot for his professional camera and long lens, but ongoing hotel construction eventually meant he could no longer access the area. So, like any good Ocean City entrepreneur, Jim adapted.

Now, he takes his camera equipment onto a pontoon boat and travels throughout the back bays looking for boaters, the right lighting and those unforgettable moments that make people want to remember their vacation long after the boat has been put away. You can often find Jim out and about near the Ocean City Inlet, West Ocean City and around the Route 50 Bridge. And yes—the bright pink shirt and banner are still very much part of the experience. “Absolutely!” Jim says when asked if he still wears his signature pink gear. The only thing he doesn't need anymore is the flashing white light he once used while photographing from land.

Getting the Perfect Shot Isn't as Easy as It Looks

One thing I quickly learned while riding along with Jim is that taking these photos from a boat is a lot more complicated than setting up on a pier.

A steady tripod? Not anymore. Jim is now photographing from a rocking pontoon boat while keeping an eye on other boat traffic, making sure he is safely out of everyone’s way and positioning himself so the lighting works. Lighting is one of the biggest factors in a great photo. Jim prefers early mornings and late afternoons, when the sun is lower in the sky and can better illuminate people sitting underneath boat tops and Bimini covers.

He also tries to shoot with the sun behind him whenever possible—but Mother Nature and boat traffic don't always cooperate. Sometimes people wave and hope for a photo, but the lighting would turn them into a silhouette. Other times, Jim has only seconds to capture the shot before the boat passes. And then comes the work most people never see. Jim says he typically takes somewhere between 300 and 500 photos a day, and every single image is edited for leveling, cropping, color correction, shadows and other adjustments. He has invested more than $25,000 in equipment and photography to capture what may ultimately be a $25 photo. But for many families, those photos are priceless.

More Than Just a Picture of a Boat

Jim's favorite part of the job is capturing the joy of families spending time together on the water. Some families have even made OC Yacht Shots part of their annual Ocean City tradition. Year after year, they gather everyone toward the front of the boat as they approach Jim, knowing exactly what to do when they see that bright pink banner. Some of those photos eventually become family Christmas cards. And Jim has captured plenty of unexpected moments along the way. One boater cruised by with his fiancée holding a sign that read, “She said yes!”

And Then There's Wildlife

Jim has photographed cormorants eating American eels and toadfish, seagulls enjoying a freshly caught crab and, of course, the famous horses of Assateague. One of his all-time favorite photos came during the White Marlin Open. As boats returned from offshore, a group of Assateague horses wandered toward the northern tip of the island, creating a striking image that perfectly captured the meeting of Ocean City's boating culture and the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore.

The Inlet: A Photographer's Dream

While Jim travels throughout the back bays, the Inlet remains one of his favorite places to photograph. And it's easy to understand why. The area is constantly buzzing with boat traffic—Jet Skis, family pontoons, tiki-style boats, charter boats and everything in between. For a photographer, Jim calls it a “target-rich environment.” It also gives him the chance to strategically include some of Ocean City's most recognizable sights in his photos, including the water tower, the Ferris wheel and other iconic backdrops.

Fun Fact!

When asked about his background, Jim wrote, "I’ve spent much of my law-enforcement career photographing crime scene scenes, crash, scenes, and bodies. This has been absolute joy and unexpected therapy for me. Now, everybody is alive, happy and they actually seem glad to see me. My wife, Rose has done a great job behind the scenes, helping me with social media, banking and the creative engineer for the pink shirts, signs and marketing during special events like, OC Bike weeks, Endless Summer car cruisers on the boardwalk and the 9/11 motorcycle parade down the boardwalk."

Want Jim to Take Your Picture? Look for Pink!

If you're heading out on the water and want a photo from OC Yacht Shots, Jim has a few tips.

First, come out from under the shade if possible. Gather your group together instead of spreading everyone across the boat. And pay attention to Jim's visual cues as he waves and gets your attention. One important thing to know: Jim is hearing impaired, so trying to yell instructions to him over the sound of boat motors probably won't work. Instead, just look for the guy in bright pink, wave, smile and let him do the rest. Photos can be purchased online for $25, and Jim also accepts private photo shoots by appointment. You can find and purchase your photos at OC Yacht Shots, and the business is also on Facebook and Instagram. And if you're already out on the water and want to know where Jim is that day, you can text him directly at 518-466-7016.

You Can't Miss Him

So the next time you're cruising through Ocean City's back bays and spot a bright pink banner waving in the distance, make sure you wave back. You may be getting the one photo you can't take yourself. Because, as OC Yacht Shots says: “You can't get a selfie of your boat.”