Today we’d like to introduce you to Troy Tackett.
Troy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Photography offers a unique perspective of beauty, imagination, emotion, and creativity captured in one precious moment. Several years back, during summer vacation, I thought it would be nice to get my daughter out of the house and go hiking or go on nature walks. Some of the trails had breathtaking views or fantastic waterfalls at the end of the trail. At the time, I only had a small point and click camera to photograph some of these beautiful Obstacles / Challenge scene. I’d post the photos on our nature walk blog and received some positive comments on my photography. I tried to find creative ways and perspectives to shoot different nature scenes and found this new found hobby both exciting and enjoyable. I then graduated to a better camera and was pleased with the crisper, cleaner images.
I started studying techniques used by professional photographers to create better photographs and tried different concepts with lighting and exposure times. One of my earliest experiments was freeze motion photography attempting to capture water splashing into a glass or onto different objects. There was a lot of trial and error, but some of the shots came out looking really awesome! The more I delved into crafting this new hobby, the more obsessed I became.
Product shots became my next goal and I invested in better lighting and some different lens. I shot everything from food shots, bottles, accessories, you name it, I photographed it. I set up a little studio in our unattached garage and was raring to go! I thought I might actually get paid for doing this! And lo and behold, I did!
Product shots evolved into shooting birthday parties, baby showers, wedding showers and then weddings! I found that photographing people was really enjoyable. I then started looking into fashion photography which opened up a whole new world of creativity. The fashion industry was new to me and quite an exciting venture. I began networking with people in the industry: designers, models, and makeup artists and thus a new career blossomed. I moved up to a professional camera and started photographing for different designers and was invited to shoot Fashion Week in both LA and NY. My work has been featured in fashion magazines and websites.
I feel very fortunate to have met some really inspirational and talented people throughout my journey as a photographer!
Has it been a smooth road?
I would have to say the main struggle I’ve had is hauling around all the camera equipment. My camera bag contains my main camera, 2 backup cameras, lens, and lighting which ends up weighing quite a bit. I’m one of those people who doesn’t want to forget anything so I bring EVERYTHING. Crazy, I know. I try to put it all in one camera bag but then it’s almost like carrying a whole other person! When I was working in New York I had to lug this giant bag all over the place. I felt like I was lopsided by the end of the day and my neck and shoulders would feel like they were on fire! So I would have to say that was my biggest challenge.
Do you feel luck has played a role in your life?
I consider myself pretty lucky to have fallen into this profession. It has been a great learning experience, and I’ve had the opportunity to travel and meet some really amazing people. When my work was featured in some magazines, it was such a gratifying feeling to be acknowledged. I went from just this guy taking shots of nature scenery to being able to attend LA and NY Fashion Week shooting runway.
Do you feel like there are certain traits that increase the likelihood of success?
I would have to say perseverance and the willingness to learn and grow will ultimately lead to success. You just have to believe in yourself because there will always be negativity out there and you just have to keep looking ahead and keep positive.
Tell us about your favorite and least favorites things about our city.
One of the best things about L.A. and Southern California, in general, is the weather. It’s great here for outdoor shooting and is close to the beach and mountains.
The traffic in Los Angeles is a nightmare. If you have to travel to Los Angeles, be prepared to sit on the freeway for a good while or leave an hour or so ahead to make sure you get to your destination on time!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.troytackett.com
- Email: troy@troytackett.com
- Instagram: troytackett
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tackettphotography
