Featured WV Photographer: Jared Tadlock

June 2, 2021by quentinjmurphy0

The older I get the more I realize how precious certain relationships can be. As a photographer we tell stories and sometimes we forget about the other artists we work along with.

These are their stories, ENJOY!

Tell us a little about you…

I am a former collegiate basketball player turned photo/video guy who calls Fairmont WV home. I was raised in the Colorado mountains and I currently serve as the photographer/videographer for Fairmont State University. I live with my wife Megan and my two little dogs Max and Millie.

What type of photography do you do most? And what do you enjoy most and why?

Through work I get to do a little bit of everything. Portraits, environmentals, action, headshots you name it. In my free time I like to shoot nature photography and landscapes. Some of my favorite things to shoot would have to be basketball and extreme sports, there’s just so much movement and so many organic moments.  I hate having to pose subject matter and with sports photography its all just natural and unfolding in front of the camera.

What is the most challenging part about being a photographer for you?

Finding a way to stand out. The market is so saturated with so many incredible photographers that its crucial to develop your own style. 

Describe your photographic style? How did you develop your style?

I try to find and photograph moments of calm and quiet. Whatever my subject matter is I look to highlight the still moments amongst the larger scene. My style is a constant process of evolution and I think that it ebbs and flows depending on my assignment or what’s in front of my lens. I have developed my style over the years from just shooting hundreds of thousands of photographs, and I hope that as I continue to shoot more, it keeps growing.

Describe a typical day in the life of you…

During the week its wake up at 5:45, Breakfast, workout, head to the office, shoot/edit, head home and hang out with my dogs, hopefully go shoot sunset somewhere and repeat. If it’s the weekend I’d hopefully be out in the woods outside Canaan valley camping or kayaking at Summersville lake.


What is your best photography tip?

Shoot more photographs. Once you buy a camera it’s free to press that shutter.


What was your scariest moment as a photographer?

Was in Iceland in 2016 at Latrabjarg which is just a 1,300ft cliff to the oceanside. Its so high up that you cannot see the bottom looking over the edge. I don’t like heights and that is about the highest drop-off you can find, I felt nauseous. That and one time at a wedding my shutter gave out right as the ceremony started. That backup camera got a lot of use that day.

Favorite photographer to follow right now and why?

That’s a tough one. My favorite photographers would have to be my boy Garrett King (@shortstache) he and I go way back into the days of shooting photos on iphones and my buddy Ben Ward (@ben.p.ward). He is a solid dude who is a super talented film photographer. He makes some beautiful photographs.

Place you want to shoot on your photography bucket list and why?

I would like to do a trip to Bali sometime. Take some great photographs of mountains and ocean and relax on the beach in-between shots. 

Stay Connected

Instagram tadlocka and travelingtadlocks

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