Courtney Thornton is a Montgomery-based portrait photographer and Alabama native. Her artistic path began after moving from Notasulga to Tallassee in third grade and joining her new school’s talented and gifted program. There she encountered diverse artistic disciplines and peers who nurtured her creative drive. She explored painting, drawing, sculpture, and mixed media—each project sharpening her techniques and expanding her vision. After high school, a camera gifted by her Aunt Vanessa sparked a deep passion for photography in the summer of 2017.

Today, Courtney co-founded The Square Creative Hub in downtown Montgomery, where she continues to develop her craft as a freelance portrait photographer. Inspired by the spaces and individuality of the women in her life, her work captures the distinct experience of being a Black woman from the South, celebrating cultural heritage and personal narratives through thoughtful, soulful imagery.