New Perspectives

Jason Stitt sees rural Texas through a different lens

By Drew Woolley

Jason Stitt has always seen the world a little differently. Through the lens of his camera, he likes to find new views of the places other people might pass every day without a second thought.

“Photography helps me to view the world in ways most people don’t get to. To look at things from different angles, different perspectives and to see things in a way that others may not,” he says. “Mostly, it’s an outlet for me to be creative and to show the world the beauty of God’s creation, whether that be people or nature.”

Now, with the help of the internet, he can encourage others in his community to find their own individual perspectives. Social media has been a place for Stitt to grow as a photographer by sharing his work, asking questions, and engaging in critiques with other professionals. He even runs his own Facebook group, Tyler Area Photography, with more than 600 members dedicated to growing the photography community in Tyler, Texas.

“I’m still learning and growing and will never stop,” Stitt says. “We don’t have lots of photography shops like you might find in bigger cities. So almost all of my continuing education and growing the craft relies on the internet.”

Stitt caught the photography bug 18 years ago while living in California. Working as a graphic designer, he started submitting his shots to a stock photo website before becoming a full-time photographer two years later. After moving back home to New Zealand with his family, Stitt discovered his passion for landscape photography. But it was only a few years before the cost of living caught up with them. They didn’t want to give up the opportunity to have his wife, Ruth, home-school their children. So, Stitt took his newfound talent for capturing natural beauty to Tyler, where he could continue pursuing his career while supporting his family.

“I am an introvert by nature,” he says. “So I really enjoy the quiet solitude of being out in nature with just my camera gear.”

In Focus

When Stitt and his family were deciding where to relocate on their move back to the States, there was one must-have for his business: a strong internet connection.

“That was one of the most important factors in choosing a place. It had to have a reliable and fast internet connection,” Stitt says. "Ninety-nine percent of my business I get through either my site or social media. So without the internet, I lose all of that.”

He isn’t exaggerating. About a year and a half after moving to Tyler and gradually building momentum as a professional photographer, Stitt and his family visited New Zealand for five weeks to see his parents. Stitt stayed away from social media during the trip and returned to find business had ground to a halt.

“I felt like I had just lost all the momentum I had built while we were gone and had to start all over again,” he says. “Now, ideally, I try to post something every weekday to keep business relatively steady and keep getting inquiries. If I’m not posting regularly, those inquiries just stop happening.”

Getting the shot

Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro, Stitt offers some pointers to make your photos stand out.

• Shoot, shoot, shoot — As with any learned skill, the best way to hone it is to do it. Get out and take as many photos as you can to develop a better idea of your interests and style.
• Be intentional — Ansel Adams said, “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” Photography is art, and good art requires forethought and planning. Think about what you want to capture and how you want to photograph it.
• Study the greats — Look closely at the work of photographers you admire. Figure out what it is about their work that appeals to you and then try to emulate it.
• Master the light — Light is the single most important factor in photography. More than determining how bright or dark your photos are, controlling light also decides the tone, mood and atmosphere of your images.
• Learn to edit — Don’t neglect learning how to use your editing software. In today’s world, the ability to edit well is one of the elements that makes for a great photographer.
• Find your community — Locate a local camera club or Facebook photography group to join. These can be great places to meet like-minded people from whom you can learn and grow.

Tools of the Trade

The internet is full of resources for aspiring photographers and professionals alike. Whether you’re looking to manage your shots or learn a new skill, there’s something for everyone.

• Education — Even the best photographers have something to learn. For professional courses, Stitt turns to sites like CreativeLive and Improve Photography. If you’re looking for something to peruse at your leisure for education and inspiration, he recommends Scott Kelby’s blog.
• Editing — With Adobe’s Photography package, anyone can get access to professional-grade software like Photoshop and Lightroom to edit and organize your photos on any device — all for little more than some streaming subscriptions.
• Website builders — Every photographer needs a place to share their work with the world. Popular website builders like Squarespace and Portfoliobox make it easy to show off your best shots and even to sell your work.
• Storage — As all those photos pile up, you’ll need somewhere to keep them. Flickr offers a substantial 1 TB of free storage, while services like Dropbox and Google can provide up to 16 TB of space as your portfolio grows.