Today we’d like to introduce you to TJ Thorne.
Hi TJ, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in rural Southwestern Pennsylvania with a forest in my backyard and room to play and roam. I spent my childhood exploring the forest, climbing trees, playing in creeks, and swinging on vines.
That set the stage for my connection to nature. In 2001 I decided to move to Portland, Oregon, a place I had never been but was drawn to by the diverse natural environments. I had always enjoyed photography, so when I moved to Oregon and started exploring the forests, mountains, and beaches, my camera was always with me.
Eventually, the ventures became more about interacting with the landscapes through my camera, and in 2011 I threw myself into the world and industry of nature photography. I started sharing my photographs in various online forums, started teaching photography workshops in 2015, and went full-time as a nature photographer in 2017.
In August of 2026 my cat Charlie and I hit the road in a van full-time and are currently on a friend’s beautiful property in California as I build the van into a home and look forward to getting more settled in and comfortable with this lifestyle.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh definitely not a smooth road.
The nature photography industry is pretty saturated, and it’s hard to stand out. I had the good fortune of being a photographer before Instagram and the nature photography boom came around, so I had already built my skill set, knowledge, and personal vision, which helped me to differentiate myself and build a reputation.
The first major challenge was in 2017 when I had quit my job of 16 years and went into full-time photography. I had one week left at my job when the Columbia River Gorge fire of 2017 destroyed the area where I earned the majority of my income. I always knew that I had my business built on a one-legged table and needed to diversify my revenue streams eventually, but that fire pulled the rug out from under me.
I spent the next few years expanding my workshops into other areas and was finally starting to work on other revenue streams when the pandemic hit, again pulling the rug out from under me. I made the adjustments I could with online teaching, giving presentations, and some passive income products, which helped to make ends meet.
Coming out of the pandemic I had to deal with some pretty heavy personal challenges that affected my business, and I am currently in the rebuilding phase again, with nothing but blue skies and an open horizon in front of me.
And during all this, the photography industry is heavily impacted by the economy. So there are ups and downs that you can’t control and just need to learn to roll with it and adjust where needed. But I’m very fortunate and grateful to have made it this far and still be able to survive despite the challenges I’ve faced and will continue to face.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m happy that I have been able to build a business around my authenticity and unique way of seeing the world.
Teaching photography is easy, and many people can do it. At the basis of it, a camera is a simple machine with three settings. There are a lot of resources out there where people can learn to take competent and beautiful-looking photos.
But what I specialize in is the creative thinking and visualization side. I’ve always been able to communicate with authenticity and vulnerability, both of which are extremely important in artistic endeavors. In my workshops and mentorships, I am helping people to connect with and uncover their inner artist so that they can make not just beautiful photos, but personally meaningful photos. Photos that are about things rather than photos that are of things.
I’m known for being a versatile photographer who is able to find things to engage with through my viewfinder no matter the location, season, light, or subject.
Many people don’t know exactly what they want to say with their work, let alone how to say it. So my favorite work is when I get to help people uncover the values and themes in their life that make them who they are, and then connect with and communicate those things through their camera.
Nature and photography saved my life, full stop. So being able to help people find even a fraction of the peace and clarity that I have found through photography is something that I am grateful for and honored that I get to play even a small part in helping someone else find that enrichment.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For those who are just starting out, I think it’s important to discover your “why.” Why are you photographing? What does it bring to you? Beyond the external reasons of wanting to bring back beauty to others, or the fact that it gets you outside to see beautiful places.
What does it bring to you emotionally and mentally? Try to distill it down into singular words. Your “why” can change over time, and if you feel unhappy with or disconnected from your work, it’s usually because there is an imbalance or friction between what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.
So always stay in touch with your why and strive to engage with the world through those values and reasons. Be vulnerable. Be authentic. Pay attention when friction arises and examine it. And don’t forget to have fun with it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tjthornephotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tjthorne_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tjthornephotography/
