Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Sloan.
Hi Tyler, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey started where I grew up, in Louisville, Kentucky. I haven’t always been a photographer. My first career started at the age of 15, where I landed in a boys home because I was an incorrigible troublemaker! The director of the boys home met me at the door and told me I was going to be the “Chef” for the other boys and the staff, cooking three meals a day, seven days a week. I fell in love with cooking food for people and worked my way through a Commercial Foods course at the local Vocational school while I was at the boys home.
From there I moved to Boston, where my mom had gotten a scholarship to got her Masters Degree in Political Science at Harvard University. I landed a job working at The World Trade Center in Boston. The chef there coached me and advocated for me to enroll in the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), where he was an Alumni. I went on to graduate from The CIA in Hyde Park, New York and spent over 30 years cooking my way across America.
My obsession with photography began in my early 20’s when I lived in Pennsylvania. I would watch birds of prey from high atop a “widow’s walk” overlooking the Susquehanna River, where I managed a Bed & Breakfast. Back then I had a Canon Rebel that shot film and the challenge of capturing a photo of a bird in flight was so exciting and challenging to me. Taking photos with film was a much different thing than using a digital camera, where you can just delete the ones that don’t turn out!
After that I went to North Carolina, Las Vegas, San Diego, Colorado, and Montana. While in Montana, my love of photography really took hold of me because I had a job where I drove down to Big Sky from Bozeman along the Gallatin River. I would see Bald Eagles and Osprey fishing the river. I became obsessed with getting the best gear I could and experimenting with the different brands of cameras, which became an expensive hobby! In order to pay for my gear I decided to start a side business and started photographing families, couples, and real estate to fund my hobby.
In 2018 I landed in Manzanita and have fallen in love with the Oregon Coast.
I still love to capture nature in its purest form with my photographs. However, I have discovered that I really love the magic that happens when I meet people and am able to connect with them and capture the moments in their life that I know will bring them joy for years to come.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road for me. Working in the restaurant business was hard. I got caught up in the fast paced life of a Chef, and struggled with alcohol abuse and drug addiction on and off most of my adult life.
I have been through two marriages and have two of the most wonderful step children who are 22 & 20 years old, and a 15 year old daughter, all who I love dearly.
I live my life sober now, one day at a time. My struggles with impulse control and experience with alcohol and drug addiction have led me to pursue a potential future career as a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. I expect to have my certification by November of 2027. Numerous counselors and therapists have helped me along the way and I feel a strong drive to give back to my community.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My specialities include surprise engagement proposals, families, and dogs. I am also currently working on a series of land and sea scapes, as well as wildlife photographs to market as fine art prints and framed images. The outdoors is my studio, I do not nor do I aspire to have an indoor studio. I have done and will occasionally do events, graduation portraits, real estate and weddings also. I am obsessed with the way a still image is able to evoke all sorts of emotions in us humans.
The process of taking portraits has allowed me to break through the barriers that often separate us in our daily lives. In a world where we often put up walls to protect ourselves, photography offers a unique opportunity to breach those defenses. Through conversations, laughter, and shared experiences during a photoshoot, I’ve had the privilege of glimpsing the stories behind the faces.
Every person I photograph carries their unique story, dreams, and desires. My mission as a portrait photographer is not just to capture their physical appearance but to understand their vision. I engage in conversations, ask about their interests, their passions, and their dreams. It’s in these conversations that I find the pieces of their true selves, which I aim to bring out in my photographs.
Taking portraits requires a profound sense of empathy. I strive to put myself in the shoes of the person in front of my lens. I want to see the world as they see it, to feel what they feel, and to understand their perspective. This empathy forms the basis of the intimate connection I establish with my subjects.
Every portrait session is a series of moments, each capturing a different facet of the person’s personality and emotions. From the spontaneous laughter to the thoughtful gaze, these moments tell a story that goes beyond words. It’s these stories that make me fall in love with portrait photography over and over again.
In the end, what I’ve come to realize is that portrait photography is not just about taking pictures; it’s about creating memories, forging connections, and understanding the human experience. Through each photo session I’ve met incredible people, heard inspiring stories, and witnessed the power of visual storytelling. Taking portraits has given me the opportunity to step into the lives of others, to perceive their vision, and to capture that vision in a series of photographs. It’s a journey of intimacy, empathy, and creativity, and it’s a journey I am grateful to be on. As a portrait photographer, I’m not just capturing images; I’m capturing souls, one snap at a time.
Any big plans?
I want to take my skills and utilize them to help marginalized people and people reintegrating into society from prison and/or institutions. I see myself one day forming a non-profit business called “The Table” where I can teach people the joys of cooking and photography in a restaurant environment. There we would cook, create recipes, and make cookbooks with photographs of the food!
I also would love to have a farm. A place where I can grow my own food, have a few animals, and settle down.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://TylerSloanPhotography.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tylersloanphotography
