Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Cook.
Hi Tom, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Born and raised in Portland Oregon, my creative roots wrapped around the PNW artistic traditions and lead me to painting, printmaking, and eventually photography and videography. I went to University of Washington to study art and have been a painter for the last 45 years. About 15 years ago I made photography my career, focusing on portraits, headshots, advertising and events with engagement and creativity at the center of any project I do. While I continue to juggle the commercial aspects of my job with fine artist’s urge to make everything as visually appealing as possible, every day at Tom Cook Photo brings me so much joy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road I have taken in photography has been wonderfully twisting and curvy, with a surprise around every corner. Running a business is challenging on good days and keeping the engine on the tracks takes constant care. COVID was an especially interesting time as my business was doing great but I was getting a lot of work in a field that wasn’t bringing me a ton of joy. When the world shut down, I decided to support my clients with video projects in lieu of onsite jobs I had been doing exclusively up to that point. As the world bloomed once again, I had a business that resembled my interests more than it had before. I would have been hard to get there without the shutdown.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
With all my careers and interests, from painter, to preschool teacher, construction contractor to photographer and videographer, I have focused on two things, people and creative problem solving. My painting, printmaking and photography have always been figure based, while preschool and construction involves a ton of problem solving. I find it so enjoyable that each part of my life has enhanced the next. Concerning my photography, I believe what I can bring to the table in terms of human connection is unmatched and that connection shows in the photos. In addition, I am currently planning my next painting series for the first time in years, and I am excited to see what that will look like given all the wonderful people I have interacted with in the last few years.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Success is about a few things: drive, persistence, skill, and endurance. I do my best to embody those words to the best of my ability. I am a people person at heart and I hope it shows.
When I used to have high end photo booths as a part of my business, I would hire staff based on those sorts of personality-forward qualities. I feel like that is so much more important than the tech side of photography. I can teach the tech. I can’t teach someone to be able to juggle the social aspects of the job with kindness, care and efficiency if it is not already in them..
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tomcookphoto.com
- Instagram: @tomcookphoto
- Facebook: Tom Cook Photo
- Youtube: @tomcookphoto1990
