Brian Hilson, Carrollton

Sure, most people smile in photos. But in Brian Hilson's portraiture work, his subjects' smiles are so natural and radiant that they don't look posed—it looks like he caught them in a moment of genuine happiness. This is likely in part to his mission to give each project "a fresh perspective instead of applying a formula," one that has led to his pictures being seen everywhere from local bars to Zagat.com. He's worked with food, street fashion, headshots, and bridal work and is currently focusing on LGBT weddings. He also leads classes in photography and software such as Photoshop.