Meet Timothy White | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Timothy White and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Timothy, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I tend to be more reactionary to what is going on around me. Consequently, I stay open to the process and circumstances as they arrive. I am confident that I can handle any situation, in fact, I thrive on the not knowing where a particular experience will take me. There is a risk to that, and it keeps me open to inspiration. As a portrait photographer, I need to be free to see my subject in the moment, and to find that something that allows them to open up and react to me and their surroundings.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I became a professional photographer right after graduating from the Rhode island School of Design. In fact, I was one of the lucky ones who found an opportunity while I was still in school to work in my desired field. It wasn’t quite what I wanted to do, but it was a opportunity to work in photography and to interact with people and to learn through experience. I think that that set me apart immediately in that I think most people leave school, especially art school, and do not quite know which direction they were going to take professionally post college. For me, I was both professionally and creatively defined and it set me on a path of learning and experience that I’ve lived throughout my career.

I’ve since had a successful 40 year career photographing portraits of the biggest names in pop culture history, from presidents, to every major musician, movie star, sports figure, and important personality in the world. I worked really hard and I’m at a point in my life where I just keep taking on new opportunities, new chapters, and new creative challenges. It keeps me so excited and so motivated and inspired. I’ve learned so much along the way, and I look at life as just stepping stones that requires placing one foot in front of the other. There always seems to be another stone to step on, and I just keep making those steps. I’ve been a very lucky man and have challenged myself continually, looked everywhere for inspiration, and continue to work hard and to look at my life as one big, loving, creative moment. I try to stay as present as I can and to look at everything with my eyes wide open.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I work hard and am involved in so many different things that a perfect break for me or the opportunity to show a friend or family member, something special in my home state would probably be to head up to Big Sur on a long drive, stopping at beaches along the way, and staying at my favorite place in a cabin overlooking the ocean on a cliff, and just hiking and experiencing nature. Really relaxing for me would be in this setting and reading, working out, drinking good wine, and being with people that I care about.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would dedicate my shoutout to my parents who always encouraged me to be myself and go after whatever made me happy.

Website: https://TimothyWhite.com

Instagram: @timothywhite