Todd Laffler is the owner and sole photographer at Laffler Photography, based out of Califon, New Jersey. His modern, fresh and quirky photography quickly caught our attention, and we’re looking forward to seeing more of him at this year’s Mystic Seminars.
How did you get started in photography?
I got stated in photography back in high school. It was my mother who showed me how to develop and print black and white negatives in her makeshift darkroom in the laundry room of our basement. I was completely in awe of the whole thing. I thought it was pure magic and was hooked immediately. After high school I attended The Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore where I earned a BFA in photography.
What has contributed to your success?
I would contribute my success to a few factors. The first being art school, where I learned a lot about the technical aspects of photography, design, composition, color theory, etc. The second contributor to my success was a thirst for learning and honing my craft. Early on I did a lot of self learning via reading, experimenting and practice. Another contributing factor to my success has been good old fashioned hard work! There is no shortcut here. I photographed tons of weddings and put myself in a lot of tricky situations. That’s the best way to learn because there really is no substitute for experience. I work extremely hard at each wedding, often photographing for 12 hours or more. I never seem to relax either, I’m always operating under the assumption that I’m missing something somewhere, either an interesting shot, or a moment, etc.
What is the most important thing for your continued success?
I think for me to continue to be successful I need to continue to push myself and work incredibly hard at every wedding. I need to continue improving my craft, learning and trying new things. I need to stay open to new ideas, while rethinking old ones. I need to stay true to my inner photography voice.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
I am openly not the best person when it comes to business stuff. It’s a constant struggle for me, unfortunately. What changed things drastically in my business happened several years ago when I grasped the concept that you shoot what you show. That was a game changer for me. It opened my eyes to a new way of seeing weddings, and changing how I approached just about everything.
What is most important in your photography?
I would say the most important thing in my photography is for me to feel connected to it. To be proud of what I’m doing. To shoot with feeling, purpose, and intention. To feel like my camera is my voice, and my voice is my camera.
If you’d like to hear Todd Laffler speak, you can see him at the following events:
• Mystic Seminars, January 10-13. 2015 – Portland, Oregon
• Laffaway Workshop with Callaway Gable, March 16-20, 2015 – New Orleans, Louisiana
• Fearless Conference (Europe), March 24-25, 2015 – Bucharest, Romania
For more information on Todd, visit his website or Facebook page.
