492: Justin Tedford: How to Capture Rural America: From Road Trip to Published Book

The Beginner Photography Podcast

In this episode of the Beginner Photography Podcast, I chat with Justin Tedford, an insightful photographer specializing in capturing the essence of old, abandoned structures. Today Justin shares his journey of putting together a self-published photo book, exploring the challenges of curating and arranging photos, and taking a photo roadtrip. He also dives into the significance of intention and connection with your subject matter.

The Big Ideas:

1. Embrace Emotional Connection: Engage deeply with your subject to capture photos that evoke emotions and tell a story.
2. Value Quality over Quantity: Spend time refining your shots instead of focusing on producing a large number of images.
3. Adaptability is Key: Be flexible and adjust your techniques based on the environment and light conditions you encounter.
4. Curate Thoughtfully: Select and arrange your photos carefully to create a cohesive and compelling visual narrative.

Photography Action Plan:

• Experiment with Light: Shoot during different times of the day to see how light affects your images. Use natural light and reflectors to fill in shadows for better composition.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Start by organizing your best photos into a digital portfolio. Arrange them thoughtfully to tell a coherent story or showcase varied styles.
• Slow Down Your Process: Spend more time on each shot, focusing on framing and composition. Analyze your photos on-site to identify and correct any issues immediately.
• Capture Emotion: Select subjects that evoke a strong emotional response in you. Aim to tell a story through your images rather than just capturing a scene.
• Engage with the Community: Join photography groups like the Beginner Photography Podcast Community to exchange tips and get feedback. Participate in workshops to learn from other experienced photographers.

Resources
Check out Justin Tedfords Website - https://www.tedfordphoto.com/home
Follow Justin on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jtedfordphoto

Watch the Free Maximizing Mini Sessions Video training and start earning money with your camera!
https://beginnerphotopod.com/minis

Build Your Dream Photography Business and Keep More of the Money You Earn with CloudSpot Studio.
And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!
Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/

Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!