Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyson Fergerson.
Hi Tyson, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like. It’s hard to think about exactly where I started sometimes, mainly because I feel like many things from my childhood are attributed to the discovery of my love, gratitude and appreciation for the gift of photography. The memories shared with my cousins gathered at my grandma’s house, or the hysterical late nights spent on vibrant video games with friends that felt more like family. Even the low moments where I felt like I could be doing more than I was doing at the time. Each of these moments and all of the ones in between feel like a catalyst for where I am now. To be more direct though, I’d say l informally started photography at the end of high school. I just got an iPhone XS and portrait mode was the newest shiny feature. I loved the bokeh effect and depth of field it had to offer, at the time though I simply thought of it as “cool”. I continued taking pictures around this time to escape my reality since my life was rapidly changing around me. Between graduating high school, my parents divorcing and the social changes of COVID-19, I was confused, lost and most of all, in a lot of pain internally. It wasn’t until 2022, a little while after these events subsided, that I would pick up my first DSLR camera and begin intentionally learning basic photography skills. Along the way! would continue to simply have fun with intentionally learning basic photography skills. Along the way I would continue to simply have fun with this new hobby of mine. In addition to my core group of friends from school and elsewhere, I met new friends that I shared my vision with during my time at the plant. Eventually work got slow at the plant and huge changes to the company were coming. With layoffs on the horizon and the clock ticking until my time to leave came, I decided to leave in the fall of 2024 and pursue an education at Oakland Community College then College for Creative Studies the following year, where I currently am now.
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?
Definitely not, life is always going to have its rough patches but adversity is just there to test and build character. I feel like on a basic level everyone struggles with anxieties, doubts and emotional stresses of everyday life to a certain degree. Personally, I think some of the most memorable rough patches were at Chrysler. There were many times I cried hoping for some sort of change in my life. The work was brutal and I still had the physical side effects of working there. would still take photo gigs despite working such long hours. At this point I really started to believe that I could see myself being a part of the media industry in some way or another. Suddenly, by the grace of God, the door to that unfamiliar world opened and I’ve been eternally grateful for that opportunity. Outside of the plant and the hardships that come from a work life balance, I think my confidence in myself as an artist was, and at times still is, an issue I face. In some instances I feel like I’ve dropped the ball for certain clients. Whether they’ve complained or not, I would feel uneasy if I didn’t feel confident in the work I produced. I’m not sure if that’s the perfectionist perspective of being an artist or if I’m simply afraid of producing something that won’t be well received.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
If you don’t already know, I am a photographer and a student in various other areas. I have been capturing moments for myself and others for over 4 years now and it’s been a journey with its ups and downs, but an enjoyable one to say the least. I primarily shoot portraits and events while also doing a bit of editorial photography. I especially like putting together concepts and working with other creatives and models to create stunning photos. I’d say I’m most known for my creative portraits because those garner the most recognition on social media. Aside from social media though I feel I’m most known for my goofy and sporadic personality. The people that I’ve worked with and really know me, know that I’m down to earth and reliable. At the moment I’m most proud of my photos I took in Greece back in June. While on my study abroad trip to Greece I made it a mission to really focus on things outside of the obvious like monuments and ruins and focus on the regular things, the ones that people may look over or maybe even see back home in the United States. I was putting my eye to the test out there and I was proud of what I came back with in the end. As far as what sets me apart from others, I think everyone has a certain look or feel to their work. For me I like to shoot outdoors and use off camera flash for dramatic and dynamic photos. I don’t work in Photoshop a whole lot but I do enjoy color grading and bumping up the clarity in Lightroom. Recently I find myself shooting low and wide, using a 16mm or a 28-70mm then getting my subject from a low angle really pushes the feeling of powerful and prominent in my photos! These keep elements give my work a sharp and striking feel.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think it’s important to keep it real when dealing with anyone you meet, whether it’s a friend, a client or even yourself, being real is the main baseline you should have. I think keeping it real lets others know that I have no ulterior motives behind anything I’m doing, building those authentic bonds. I feel like a lot of the clients I’ve gotten came from me simply being myself and them keeping me in mind when they’re in need of my skills. Being honest with myself is an important part of success too, and that’s something I’ve learned in recent times. Picking and choosing your battles, setting boundaries with what you will and won’t do as a photographer is vital to maintain a level of stability amidst other areas of my life.
Pricing:
- Lifestyle Shoot – $250
- Studio Shoot – $350
- Event Shoot (2 Hours) – $400
- Event Shoot (3 hours) – $550
- Event Shoot (4 hours) – $700
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tsgallery.net
- Instagram: tyshots__
