Meet Justin Tedford | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Tedford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, what are you inspired by?
Being a creative individual and photographer I am always inspired by my environment. I believe that an individual’s upbringing and life experiences are what will eventually shape them into the individual they become and the environment plays a big role. As a photographer, I am always inspired by the environment I’m in. It may be a national park or the business I am photographing for. Growing up in the Midwest; has as shaped my style as an artist and what I love to photograph, Normally you will not find me in a large metropolitan environment. I spend a lot of time photographing rural communities, individuals, and their businesses. My environment played a big role in this and steered me in the direction of my business. The environment I photograph in gives me the inspiration I need to create images I create. If I am working on a farm photographing an individual, I won’t choose a location that does not help tell the individuals or busnisses story.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As far as I can remember, I have always had a creative bone in my body. I started out painting and drawing as my art. Behind all the canvases, sketch pads, and paint, there was a passion to pick up the camera. I never had the opportunity until my aunt loaned me her 35mm SLR for vacation. On day one of the trip, the shutter went out. That was my introduction to photography. Later on photography was supposed to be an easy A in high school, yet it became more than a grade. It became a passion and drive that still exists to this day.

Nothing is more magical than watching your first print slowly appear under the red light of the darkroom as it sits in the developer. They say your past creates who you are, and I believe it does. I grew up in Harrison County, Iowa running the hills and back roads of my grandparent’s farm in the Loess Hills, the most magical place in all of Iowa. The Loess Hills and the agricultural communities and the people who live there have shaped my style and passion to photograph what many call a fly-over state.

You won’t find me in a studio photographing portraits of seniors. I am the guy whose car you find covered in gravel dust. I am a photographer, husband, and photo educator just driving the rural landscapes and back roads of Iowa looking to photograph Iowa’s agriculture and rural communities before they become a distant memory.

What really sets me apart as a photographer is I focus primarily on the Midwest rural communities and individuals, photographing small towns and the farmer families in them.

Being a photographer in todays world is a challenge, these days everyone has a camera!

The biggest thing I have learned is to take opportunities as they arise and no matter how big or small they are don’t pass them up. Small opportunities can lead to big payoffs in the future!

I want people to know that there is more to the Midwest than it is a section of the United States you just fly over! There are a lot of opportunities here, you just have to look for them and it is a great place to grow a business if you take the time. I also want people to know that if you’re a photographer, the midwest has a lot to offer photographically as well!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First of all, we would stop at the Iowa State Fair! Eat as much fried food on a stick as humanly possible and support the Iowa pork and beef producers and wrap it up with ice cream from the Iowa Dairy Association. We then would head west to the Loess Hills and explore the back roads! I would also take them to the small rural communities and eat at all the family owned resturaunts!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My biggest fans have always been my wife Sarah, and my parents. Ted Mallory; my high school yearbook and photography instructor.

Website: www.tedfordphoto.com

Instagram: Jtedfordphoto

Facebook: Justin Tedford Photography // https://www.facebook.com/jtedfordphoto

Youtube: Justin Tedford Photography

Image Credits
All taken by me