Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Wolfson.
Hi Todd, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey as an artist started with parents and grandparents
having Kodak® Brownies & Instamatics®.
Some were gifted to me and some i just appropriate.
I was fascinated with cameras and music
by the time I was 7 years old.
My parents and grandparents has wonderful family photo albums.
I think “family photography” and documenting that side of things was my greatest early inspiration.
I also shot most of the photos for my high school yearbook,
my senior year.
I learned so much about people and movement and improvisation
that year.
–
My first instruments were claves, maracas and cheap bongos
i bought with some books of Green Stamps®
My older brothers and i collected 45s and LPs, like mad.
So there was lots of music in every variety from a young age.
–
I moved to Austin at the end of 1979.
I came to Austin because it seemed like a town full of art and music.
I did not come here for school or work.
I worked at The Bazaar on the Drag, UT dorm kitchens,
helped open Mother’s on Duval, drove a produce truck
for the produce buyer at the FIRST Whole Foods Market
and so many other jobs.
The Austin Chronicle started in 1981
and since the very few months i would be hounding them to let me shoot for them.
That took many, many years and slowly i was in…
by 1992 i had my first of many covers, and
for over 30 years i shot hundreds and hundreds of images for the paper.
probably the most prolific of all the Chronicle photographers,
over time.
–
At the same time, I started shooting art for bands and CDs and the like.
The Reivers, Alejandro Escovedo, The Coffee Sergeants and a Jo Carol Pierce tribute album
were a handful of my first projects.
I was also shooting for dozens of clothing stores and hair salons.
All of this was getting me seen in many avenues of people photography
and my work/art was gaining popularity amongst the people of Austin
and I was becoming a sought after, music, family, modeling and portrait
photographer year by year.
–
I am now a highly respected and beloved part of the music community
playing music with dozens of my dear friends
over the years,
hosting music jams for decades,
photographing enormous amounts of music related
– gigs, CDs, LPs, Cassettes, magazine and newspaper work
posters and promo work..basically everything
including a body of music videos as well.
Obviously a VERY blessed life of art!
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?
I am a strong individualist and I also have a big heart.
I started out on the wanting to grab the brass ring mindset,
but early on, iI hated that “game” of dealing with major labels and magazines.
LOTS of hassles, especially because this was before the digital age.
(1980s-1990s)
I opted to “trust my gut”, not take jobs I didn’t want,
and work for the sake of working and not always the money.
So, you tell me?
The road’s not smooth at all,
but It can have major rewards, artistically.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My main subject over the decades is not JUST people.
It is capturing the feels and vibes of a person.
Essence, Aura, whatever you call it.
People have been telling me this for years.
I have learned to not think about my portraits,
trust my process,
and just have at it.
I am probably best known for Austin Chronicle covers
and some of my iconic music images that have been seen all over the world.
A Willie & Bobbie Nelson set of images would be one example.
I have never looked at myself as a professional photographer
as much as i believe I am an artist that works in a commercial and professional
arena.
As far as what sets me apart from the other photographers,
I’d say it’s my personal intuition and connection to my subjects.
What were you like growing up?
Our family lived in a middle-class neighbor hood In Tulsa Oklahoma
in the 60s and 70s.
We spent days and days on bikes, going deep into the woods behind our houses.
VERY enchanted life from mall culture, music culture, and all that you might expect.
I was also HUGE into post vaudeville entertainment on TV
and in movies.
I loved the Marx Brothers, Laurel & Hardy, Batman, The Monkees
and ALL the variety shows..to name a handful…
I was a sweet kid and kind of a young punk, too.
Pricing:
- $1000 – give or take for a session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://toddvwolfson.tumblr.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddvwolfsonphoto/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@toddvw1
- Other: https://toddvwolfson.bandcamp.com
