Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Tompkins.
Tyler, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up in a small town you have to find creative ways to occupy your time. That was action sports, and photographing said action sports for me. Skateboards, BMX, mountain bikes, home-built ramps, and anything with a motor I could get my hands on, that’s where you could find me, usually pointing the camera at someone in between rides of my own, encouraging them to do something rad (Stupid).
When you’re a broke kid in the middle of nowhere, you shoot with whatever camera you can grab at Walmart with the money you earn mowing lawns. It was always those cheap digital cameras with the awful digital zoom that I had. The ones that took potato-quality photos. You know the ones I’m talking about, but hey, it was all about the quality of the memory, not the quality of the photo for us back then.
It wasn’t until my mid 20’s that I bought my first professional camera. What a game-changer. I didn’t stop after that. I was pointing my camera at anything a camera could be pointed at. Watching Camera videos on YouTube, reading blog posts, and studying photo techniques until 3 am, learning everything I could about using a “real” camera. I managed to score a few small clients here and there, but mostly I was just having fun with it. Creating art. I had never really seen myself as an “artist.” Not that I didn’t enjoy art, I just hadn’t found my creative outlet yet, but when I realized what I could really do with a camera, that’s when the creativity began.
Fast forward to Covid. In the middle of all the lockdowns, I did one of the dumbest things I have ever done. (That has somehow wildly worked out for me) and I quit my job. No real backup plan, just one angry boss too many, and much like Cartman, I said, ” Screw you guys, I’m going home.” And I did. I went home, I picked up my camera and decided that it was all or nothing.
Turns out professional photography isn’t my full-time calling… Funny how life has a way of showing you exactly what you need to know in the most annoying ways. Nonetheless, that time taught me the difference between working with a camera and creating art with it. Sure, the line blurs, but I was drawn to the creative aspect of it.
That time also allowed me to reconsider what I really wanted to do in life. I decided the construction industry was where I needed to be, and I managed to land a fantastic job. Photography has become such a fun part of my life now, and I’ve had the privilege of taking on some amazing clients that have continually allowed me to blur the lines of work and art. I’ve found my happy place.
The good people I’ve met, the awesome places I’ve been, the crazy experiences I’ve had, and the memories and friendships I’ve made along the way that will last a lifetime, all because of a camera; What a blast it’s been. Looking back on where it all started, to now seeing my work turned into posters, skateboard decks, brand catalogs, flyers for events and shows, I’d like to think little me is proud. I know adult me is. The journey is still ongoing though, and wherever it takes me, you can bet I’ll be there with a camera pointed at it, most likely encouraging someone to do something rad… Stupid.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like all good things in life, it wasn’t always easy. Gear is expensive, clients aren’t guaranteed, and bills don’t stop coming. I remember days of calling and annoying realtors, asking if I could come photograph their properties with my drone. Many jobs done for free to get work for my portfolio and countless hours invested in perfecting my craft. The ugly side of most things in life is that there are always sacrifices to make.
One of the harder aspects of Photography as a side gig is making time to edit. Work until 5:00 pm, get home, cook dinner, shower, sit down and edit for a couple hours, sleep, and do it all again the next day. There have been a lot of weeks where it’s work/edit all week, shoot all weekend, and dive right back into the next week. It definitely gets exhausting, but it makes it all worth when you deliver the photos to a client and they are ecstatic about them. That’s what keep me going; that’s why I do it. The love I get to share with so many good people makes every single late-night and weekend worked so worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I work in the Construction Industry full-time, I’m on the management side of things. My job is to oversee the beginning phases of our construction projects and to get them off the ground and running on time. It’s very logistical work. A lot of spreadsheets. A LOT of spreadsheets. Most people would probably find it boring, but I enjoy it! Also, I think I just get a sick satisfaction out of making a spreadsheet automate something I could have easily just done.
My Professional Photography career has definitely led me in some directions I never really expected to take. I ended up working for a wedding photography company for a while. That job taught me tons about the wedding industry, and with that knowledge, I’ve been able to shoot with some awesome wedding photographers. Even picked up a couple weddings of my own here and there, but these days, really the only wedding work I do is second shooting for Chevy Chey Photography. She’s great, and I don’t have to stress! Weddings are full-time work, so I generally steer clear of booking them. Although, I’d really love to do a destination wedding, so there are always exceptions to be made.
Action sports and music are my favorite though. I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with some incredibly talented local bands, capturing their live sets, and knocking out some promotional shoots. I remember seeing a photo I took being used on Spotify for the first time, and it was such an awesome feeling. It really helped me realize just how cool being a photographer can be.
I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to work with an action sports brand, Blaize Culture. They sponsor some local skaters and BMX/Motocross riders and have brought me out to capture multiple events. Their events are some of the most fun I’ve had behind a camera. We’ve also collaborated on posters that Blaize culture gives out with purchases. Having the opportunity to share such cool pieces of the local scene with so many people is one I’ll always be proud of.
What does success mean to you?
Success is happiness. It’s the feeling that what you are doing matters and is making an impact in some way. It’s the feeling of delivering a photo album to a client and seeing the pure happiness it brings them. Those feelings can’t be bought with all the money in the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: blaizmedia.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/blaizmedia
