How I Became A Photographer

My first career was in music. I studied classical and jazz performance at Mansfield university, and have been performing as a professional since 2003. In 2007 I started working in the cruise ship industry as a jazz musician, and that’s when I began some serious dabbling with photography. I found that as the ship pulled into a new port I would be more excited to get my camera out of the case than I was to get the saxophone out for the show at night. That’s when I knew it was time to make a change.

I went back to school for a master’s degree as an Education Specialist with a focus on music. After 2 years in the education world, I knew that wasn’t for me either, so I began planning the launch of my photography studio. In 2010 I opened my doors for business (out of my home), and in 2013 I opened a retail studio in the business district of town.

I find that my career as a jazz performer translates seamlessly to life as a photographer. There is a necessity to understand your equipment, which takes time and practice, but the real art happens when I’m thrown into a new scenario and it becomes time to improvise. That’s what I love so much about photography and Jazz – improvising to create something amazing. The best part about photography is that my creations become a visual part of history – where as a jazz gig only lasts a few hours. With jazz, unless the gig was professionally recorded, those sounds are lost in time and all that remains are memories of the experience.

To top everything off, I am back to enjoying music again. I went through a creative block for a little while - it was as if working for a company and performing only what I was paid to do ruined the best parts of music for me. Now I generate income by creating unique images of my own personal taste for clients, and I teach music lessons on the side because I love it. I also perform on a regular basis, and have taken on a recording project. I have pulled out all the creative stops, and couldn't be happier with my career path!

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Liz Valentine's Headshot Session

As always, we had a blast with Liz! Her fun, happy, energetic personality is SO contagious! Liz is the owner/operator of Studio V Media & Photography in Port Allegany, and we often work together, weather we are taking pictures for each other's families, talking "shop", or just hanging out for some fun. For this shoot, Liz has just become the proud new owner of a Cannon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. If you don't know what that means - it is a REALLY BIG LENS that EVERY photographer wants, and once they have it... it becomes part of their family. Its generally one of the most favorited pieces of glass ever created - so, yes, it is worth getting a photo shoot for yourself to celebrate the occasion!

Competition? What Competition?

Photo Courtesy of Studio V. Photography Often, we are asked how we make our photography business thrive when there are so many competitors out there, especially in a rural and isolated location like ours. Sure, there are mom-togs, those who do it for a hobby, those who undercut our prices, those that far out price us, those that offer downloads, free prints, etc., etc. After all, in a boutique business like ours, people are going to either love our work or hate it. They're either going to come to us or go somewhere else. That's okay. We're here to help those people that love our style, our personalities, and our art. Sometimes what we offer doesn't fit the customer's choice. That is okay. Hopefully we can help them out in some other way. Perhaps we can give them guidance on what to wear , a checklist for wedding preparations , or even recommendations for a colleague that might suit them better. TOP: The Walck Family Captured by ...

So You Want To Be A Photographer?

Are you interested in becoming a photographer? Do you want to turn your passion for creating images into a source of income to support yourself and your family? Tim Walck Photography will soon be offering online courses in photography training, and portrait business training. Each course will span 4-8 weeks. Every student who participates in all classes will gain the tools necessary to succeed in the wedding and portrait photography business. ---- I started my photography business with only $2,000, which I had saved from working as a tele-marker, social services provider, and substitute teacher, all while being a full time graduate student at Mansfield University. That was enough to buy a camera, lens, and flash. I poured my heart and soul into photography, read everything I could get my hands on, and began to build my business. After 3 short years of juggling multiple jobs, and being a photographer on the side, I made the leap into phot...

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