Meet Craig Gum

Sometimes it takes leaving home to discover where you truly belong. For Craig Gum, that journey began in Canton, Ohio, birthplace of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the historic Canton Bulldogs. A self-described Midwestern Yankee, Craig grew up surrounded by football tradition before heading south to attend the University of South Florida, where he spent his college years enjoying sand volleyball, competitive water skiing, and the kind of adventures that hinted at a life less ordinary. Today, that life has led him to Five Points, where he has quickly become a familiar face both behind and in front of the camera.

Just over a year ago, Craig established his photography studio, Classic City Capture, at the corner of Milledge and Springdale. It didn't take long for the neighborhood to win him over. Drawn to the area's walkability, character, and close-knit atmosphere, he soon moved his residence just a block away into the Rocksprings community. "I like the small-town feel of Five Points," he says. "The fantastic food, unique shops, and the people make it a place that feels like home."

Photography wasn't always the plan. While working for General Electric and later studying information technology at DePaul University, Craig developed a fascination with technology and digital creativity. That fascination turned into a passion nearly three decades ago when he first discovered Adobe Photoshop. "I was amazed by the idea that with enough patience and imagination, you could create almost anything," he recalls.

That curiosity evolved into a professional photography career spanning more than 15 years. Along the way, his work has appeared in galleries throughout Atlanta, magazines, books, and countless social media feeds. He built a reputation for artistic portraiture, studio photography, and creative imagery before expanding his focus to help businesses and organizations tell their stories through compelling visuals.

Today, his client list includes major corporations such as Boehringer Ingelheim and Johnson & Johnson, alongside local favorites including Epting Events, Jack's Cheesecake, Divas Who Win, and the Taylor-Grady House. Through Classic City Capture, which he operates with partner Kat Wood, Craig works with businesses, families, and individuals across Athens and beyond.

More recently, he joined the team at Marigold Solutions, where he specializes in real estate photography and videography. "As a photographer, you spend a lot of time working alone," Craig says. "Being part of the Marigold team has brought a sense of camaraderie and collaboration that I didn't realize I was missing."

When he's not behind the camera, Craig can often be found outdoors enjoying some of his favorite hobbies. Disc golf and pickleball regularly take him to local parks including Sandy Creek and Southeast Clarke Park, while Thursday nights often find him competing in a nine-ball league at The Rail on Mitchell Bridge Road.

Adventure remains a major part of his life. Craig is currently nearing completion of his Dive Master certification and has scuba diving destinations around the globe on his wish list, including Fiji, the Galápagos Islands, Turks and Caicos, and California's legendary kelp forests. He also hopes to one day encounter a whale in the wild.

Closer to home, weekends are often spent with his partner, Melissa Stauffer, exploring Athens. Whether they're visiting farmers markets, attending concerts, browsing flea markets, or searching yard sales for hidden treasures, the pair enjoys discovering the community together—often arriving on Craig's 2004 motorcycle.

"You'll know it's us," he jokes. "Melissa is usually carrying a bright red backpack full of whatever treasures we've found."

His love of community extends to family as well. His son, Gage, owns and operates Gage Gum Carpentry here in Athens, continuing the family's entrepreneurial spirit.

Craig is also known for his sense of humor. A lifelong Cleveland Browns fan, he proudly sports a Browns tattoo on one forearm. Yet his favorite tattoo is a simple message on his camera hand that perfectly captures his outlook on life and photography. It reads: "Smile 4 Me." It's an invitation that reflects more than his profession. It reflects a philosophy rooted in kindness, connection, and seeing the best in people. "I've always believed in the Golden Rule," Craig says. "I do my very best to treat others exactly how I'd like to be treated. Wouldn't it be a fantastic world if everyone would?"

In a neighborhood built on relationships and community, that's a perspective that fits right in. Through his camera lens—and through everyday life in Five Points—Craig continues to capture the moments, places, and people that make Athens special.