Defro LLC: Capturing community through the lens

Long before the shutter clicks and the flash pops, there’s a relationship being built. For senior sports photographer David Dixon, known to nearly everyone in Indianapolis sports circles as “Defro,” that connection between photographer and subject is just as important as the final portrait. 

“Most of the athletes I have photographed over the past two decades probably don’t know my real name,” Dixon said. “They call me Defro. So that is what I decided to name my business.”  

What started as a hobby evolved into Defro LLC, a minority-owned, for-profit  photography enterprise. Dixon’s work spans multiple sports and events, but his heart remains rooted in the high school basketball culture. His business has grown to encompass partnerships with other photographers. Today, Defro LLC is contracted by the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) for state championship events, in addition to working with individual schools and venues across Indianapolis.  

His philosophy, distilled from those early lessons, is simple: “Never take your finger off the trigger.”  

Dixon arrives hours before tipoff to scout scenes and prepare. The best shots happen after the play — the reaction, the emotion, the bench exploding.  

“I want to capture images, not photos, that hopefully ignite something in somebody,” Dixon said. 

Beyond his business success, Dixon has made community investment a cornerstone of his life’s work. He serves as a founding mentor of 300 Cameras for 300 Kids, an initiative dedicated to providing underserved high school students with pathways into photography careers. The program offers mentorship, professional training, and actual equipment to students who might otherwise never access the industry. 

For Dixon, the initiative is about paying forward the generosity shown to him. He regularly shares tips with young photographers, emphasizing that the technical aspects of photography matter less than genuine connection and relentless preparation. 

As Defro LLC continues to grow, Dixon shows no signs of leaving the baselines. Whether he’s documenting championship celebrations or mentoring the next generation with a camera for the first time, his mission remains consistent: capture the moment, build the community and keep the shutter clicking and the bulb beaming. 

Contact Dixon and Defro, LLC at 317-590-8744. Follow Dixon on Instagram @Defroinc.

Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham created this highlight. If you would like your business highlighted in the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, contact him at 317-762-7846 or email him at noralp@indyrecorder.com.