Rodney Dwayne Young

Born on August 22, 1962, to Teresa Young-Wilson and Tyrone (Billy) Wilson, Rodney grew up in various parts of Southeast Washington, DC. Some of Rodney’s fondest childhood memories are of the times he spent at his aunties’ and uncles’ homes, hanging with friends and cousins, and getting into mischief around the neighborhood.

While in his teens, he developed an interest in photography after taking a darkroom class in high school. This art form became a new creative outlet that would serve him throughout the rest of his life.

Rodney enlisted in the Navy in June 1982, serving as an ammunitions officer assigned to the USS Midway, and stationed in Japan. His service allowed him to explore the world, including travels to Singapore, Thailand and Australia. During his time on the ship, he continued working on his photography; one of his images is even displayed on a wall in Top Gun. He was honorably discharged in April 1988 as an AO2. During his service, he was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

After his service, Rodney returned to the U.S. and worked in several different industries, including legal services, federal contracting, and hospitality services, where he spent time as a bartender, restaurant and banquet manager, staff trainer, and doorman/bouncer (one of his favorites) before finally returning to the work that brought him the most joy.

Deciding to pursue photography full-time, Rodney continued to build and hone his talent, working as a sports photographer–covering D.C.’s professional sports teams–for several news outlets in the 80s and 90s. In the mid-90s, Rodney shifted his focus to fashion, beauty, and commercial photography and opened his own photography business, Picture This Photography, in 1995, which was later renamed RDY Studios. This business remained his primary focus until his passing. He has been published in multiple prominent magazines and is known and respected for his vision and attention to detail. Notably, he also dedicated part of his career to fostering and honing the skills of new models. However, despite his advanced skill, Rodney often sought new perspectives and techniques from others in the industry and shared his own knowledge through workshops, networking events, and informal gatherings of fellow and aspiring professionals.

Outside of work, Rodney loved the Redskins (refusing to acknowledge the name Commanders) and, for a while, frequently attended games. He had a diverse taste in music, which included a mix of classic rock, R&B, and all things Prince. Wherever he was working, there was music blasting nearby. Rodney made being a lifelong learner a reality–he was never too proud to ask when he didn’t know something, and he always welcomed a good debate and exchange of ideas. He didn’t shy away from those with differing opinions but instead looked to them as opportunities to consider other possibilities. He loved to entertain family and friends and was an amazing cook and baker, always looking for and testing out new recipes–through this exploration, he developed new skills in things like brewing beer, dry-aging meats, and making sausage. Most of what he made was shared with others, part of making such complex treats being an act of love towards those who got to enjoy them.

Rodney cherished spending time with friends and family over good food, good drink, good stories, and, of course, lots of laughter. He knew how to make anyone feel welcome, and he would make friends just by passing them on the street or by starting up a conversation while waiting in line. He was especially known for his welcoming smile and big bear hug anytime you saw him.

Rodney is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Diane, as well as his daughter Olivia (28), son Brian (25), sister Tonya, brother Derrick (Melinda), and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his father, Tyrone (d. 2021), and his mother, Teresa (d. 2018). Following cremation, Rodney requested to have his ashes scattered in several places, all tied to joyful memories.

Services will be held at Murphy Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd, in Arlington, Virginia, on Saturday, January 17. The family will receive visitors between noon and 1:00 pm and memorial services will be held immediately following, starting at 1:00 pm.

The family requests that guests dress in black or purple (his favorite color and representative of Prince), or a combination of the two.