Local shutterbug mixes skill with passion in his photography

This past January, I was featured in the Daily Times in Farmington, NM.
The following is the article as it appeared in the paper:

Local shutterbug mixes skill with passion in his photography

Photography is for some, a profession, and for others, a hobby. For Farmington photographer Adam Telford, it's both. Telford became interested in photography in 1997, during his senior year in high school. He served on the yearbook staff where he was responsible for taking most of the photos that were to be included.

"It was the first time I went out of my way to take photos," Telford said in an interview Tuesday, "rather than just snapshots."

Telford's affinity for the medium came naturally, though he continued to improve his abilities by taking classes. During his first semester of college at San Juan College, he took a black and white photography class taught by Jim Burgess. "I became so intrigued by the process, that I continued to take advanced courses taught by him and learn new techniques in the darkroom," he said. "Over the last two years, I have continued to learn more about the use of flash in photography through online tutorials and photo sharing websites."

Telford said he has a number of small, portable flash units that can be used for photo sessions, both in the studio or out on location, that he has become comfortable using through these online learning sessions.

"It is amazing how an extra bit of flash outdoors can change an image into a beautiful portrait," Telford asserted. "Balancing the ambient light with flash has taken me years to learn, and I continue to study new techniques and the effects of light modifiers on the quality of light I can achieve in my portraits."

Telford said he used film for nearly 10 years before purchasing his first digital camera.

"I was very apprehensive about the quality available from digital cameras," he said, "and more importantly to me, was the ability to store photos once they were taken. Now that digital storage has become very affordable, I wouldn't want to go back to shooting with only film for my portrait work."

"I will still use 35mm black and white film for some of my fine art photography, but my portrait work is strictly digital," he added. "The ease of editing and processing digital images can't be beat by traditional darkroom techniques."

Natural Images by Adam, Telford's photography business, got its name for several reasons.

"The word natural refers to the relaxed poses and true smiles captured during my interactions with my subjects," he said. "I work very hard to create beautiful photos, without the need to digitally fix mistakes after the fact. I also work to incorporate the natural environment on location shoots and create a relaxed atmosphere in the studio."

Photography for Telford is more about expressing thoughts and feelings for others, than for himself.

"I love being able to capture a moment of someone's life while sharing it with them at the same time," he said. "This goes for any type of portraits I shoot. Whether it is maternity, infants, toddlers, children, families, or weddings, I appreciate being able to photograph moments and preserve memories for people."

What are some of the more challenging parts about being a photographer? For Telford, it's dealing with the demands, expectations and hopes clients have during shoots. It's also being able to remain confident in knowing that he got the right shot.

"I feel that the most challenging part of photographing people is helping them to relax enough to take a natural looking portrait," he commented. "My portrait sessions are typically two hours long, which allows for people's personalities to show through. I take my time during these sessions and observe how families interact and allow the little nuances and expressions that come naturally from individuals flow through to the photos."

Besides shooting inside his studio, which is located in the upstairs of Artifacts Gallery on Main Street in downtown Farmington, he also ventures into the great outdoors to capture some of life's natural settings. He has also traveled to Colorado and California to photograph weddings.

So when it comes to sharing his secrets of becoming an up-and-coming shutterbug, Telford is candid in sharing with others the same advice he received in his early days of shooting.

"The best advice I can give to anyone wanting to become a photographer is to learn the basics of photography. Don't just be a point-and-shoot photographer," he noted. "Learn how to take great photos and do not rely on editing to fix problems that could be avoided by changing the way a photo is taken. Offer quality images and that will make your prices worth paying."

One of Telford's most memorable shoots to date was this past year as he photographed a mother and her two daughters along the Pigford Rose Garden on 20th Street in Farmington.

"My daughters and I had an amazing experience spending the evening in and around the rose garden during the photo shoot with Adam," Tonda Brittain said. "He was easy going, yet incredibly creative. There are so many possibilities to explore with his photography. I cannot wait until we can take more photos. I wish I could take Adam on vacation with us as our personal photographer."

For more information on Natural Images by Adam or the services offered, call 505-716-0719 or search Natural Images by Adam on Facebook. For those who are not on Facebook, his digital portfolio is viewable by visiting www.flickr.com/photos/adam_telford.

"I encourage input and feedback from those I have the pleasure of photographing," Telford maintained. "When I take on a portrait session, it is not a time-slot in a busy day, but instead, it is a unique opportunity to capture a moment in someone's life. My goal is to provide a wide array of photographs anyone would be proud to have on display in their home for years to come."

Thank you for taking the time to view and appreciate my photography.

I am always looking for new models to collaborate on new ideas.

I am currently located in Aztec, New Mexico, USA

For more about me and my photography click here