Biography
Summary
Upon completion of his photojournalism studies at Ohio University and participating in their Scotland summer photography program, Todd accepted a photographer's staff position with Egypt Today magazine based in Cairo, Egypt, covering stories in the Middle East and northern Africa. After three years, Todd moved to Hamburg, Germany to work with Transglobe Photo Agency, strengthening their local stock photography. Upon his return to the United States, he relocated to Washington, D.C. working for the Washington Post for five years, where he transitioned from a photographer to a picture editor. His next stop was with the Detroit Free Press where he worked as their Features Picture Editor, editing eight sections ranging from entertainment and travel to food and health. For the past five years, Todd has called New York City home and during this time he has worked for the Associated Press, World Picture Network, and NBC Universal. Todd is currently pursuing his master's degree in photography and multimedia at S.I. Newhouse's School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Detailed
As I look back, I realize the experience of growing up in the small town of Marysville, Ohio, is what drives me today to seek out diversity, challenge, risk and success. I had always been naturally drawn to communicating on a visual level. My chosen adolescent toy was the camera, which allowed me to document numerous family vacations, camping across the country every summer. Obtaining a higher education seemed to be the only viable option, so I sought out one of the country's top photojournalism programs at Ohio University. The next challenge was to figure out a way to pay for the opportunity to live and learn in Athens, nestled in the Hocking Hills of southeast Ohio. Next to winning the lottery or turning to a life of crime, it became clear that I would have to "be all that I could be." A six-year enlistment in the Army Reserves would take me to basic training in South Carolina, where I found myself throwing grenades, bonding with a M16 rifle, and breathing in tear gas. Despite this step not relating to photography, the military did teach me about leadership, teamwork, discipline, and organization - all of which I use on a regular basis in the newsroom.
I consider the opportunity to have studied at Ohio University a unique experience; the photo program focused on everything from skilled technique, personal style, and journalistic approach to effective editing, computer literacy, and graphic design. I made an effort to study both the fine art and journalism sides of photography. Fine art photography developed my attention to detail, use of light, and expression of an idea. The university's revered summer field photography workshop in Scotland would clarify my passion, talent, and desire to study journalism. The workshop consisted of five intense weeks of classroom study, picture story assignments and self-developed documentary projects, the biggest of which was my chosen photo record of the country's lifeboat rescue network.
Another year of academic achievement passed and it came time to seek a new summer challenge. After weeks of networking, I moved to Miami, Florida to work as a freelance location assistant with three professional lifestyle photographers. Holding a light meter and a reflector in the hot sand next to sweaty models was not glamorous, but it gave me some insight to the freelance advertising world. What better way for a future editor to understand the freelancers he edits than by seeing first hand their priorities, scheduling, and overall approach to the business.
With an extensive range of photo exploration and study, I accepted my first overseas position in the Middle East upon graduation. A small note posted in our college office caught my eye - a staff photographer needed for a general interest magazine based in Cairo, Egypt. I don't remember second-guessing my decision to send a resume and portfolio. I soon would be giving the news to my parents that my first "real" job was going to be half way around the world in a place of extremes, filled with beauty, incredible history, and rich language. The experience with Egypt Today Magazine led me on a three year journey through several countries, covering everything from horse breeding and Islamic fundamentalism to cotton production and desert travel. Teamwork was essential as I traveled to remote locations with writers, edited film with designers, and discussed future editorial choices with managing editors. I believe this was the also the birth of my desire to be an editor since there was true excitement in combining words and pictures effectively and recommending design choices. There was tremendous growth professionally and personally, but as stories began to be repeated, I knew I had to move on to grow as a journalist.
Recent travels in Eastern Europe peaked my interest in the region. Yet, most publications I had contact with at the time were limited in their scope. Hamburg, Germany was where I fell into the hands of Transglobe Photo Presse Agency. A unique opportunity was presented - a job covering local city stock assignments. It allowed me to see the business from an agency's perspective. But one must be careful when things seem ideal. I hit a creative wall upon arriving. I found myself photographing shopping malls, cafes, and discos, quite a change from my adventures along the Nile. The agency ultimately did not fit my career goals, so I removed myself from the situation after four months. I learned that you must have confidence in your editors. They need to know how to manage, and with energized passion, conviction, and organization, they must understand journalism.
Everyone speaks about culture shock going into a foreign land, but you rarely hear discussion about the shock of returning back to the United States after several years away. Where do you fit back in? How do you re-establish yourself in your profession when your friends and colleagues have already moved up the “ladder” while you opted for foreign travel? How do you cope economically? How do you relate to the ease of communication and commercialization? I found myself much more critical and in a general sense, I realized the American way is not always the best way. I believe a worldview allows me to relate to news stories from an interesting vantage point. Certainly no one can know everything about every place, but as a picture editor, I feel I can now edit beyond what is expected.
It was time for another risk. I basically pulled out a map and pointed. I would go to a city large enough for opportunity, urban enough to have public transportation, and close enough to relocate my few belongings with relative ease. Washington, D.C. became my new home for the next five years. My experience, personality, portfolio, and drive gave me the opportunity to join the picture desk at the Washington Post. I gained valuable professional experience by working closely with some of the best in the journalism field. I served as an assistant on the photo desk, specifically dealing with Photoshop enhancement, picture transmissions, in-house photo assignments and the daily flow of photographs to various departments. More importantly, over four of those five years, I was the relief picture editor for the National, Foreign, Style, Financial, and Sports sections. I also began covering for the national/foreign picture editor and in doing so, I was working with foreign correspondents, communicating the best photographic approach in often less than desirable circumstances. I was also able to develop relationships with freelancers across the county.
With my sights set for New York City, I had to plan for more professional growth and experience. I had to find a position in which I could have more responsibility, guiding projects through their entirety. With a sad goodbye, I accepted a position as the Features picture editor at the Detroit Free Press, knowing it was an exciting opportunity to edit eight feature sections (Way We Live, Body and Mind, Entertainment, Food, Travel, Real Estate, Choices, and Weekend).
Three years flew by quickly as I solidified my picture editing skills. The experience in Detroit was extremely rewarding. I had direct influence on thousands of newspaper pages, opting to push photographers to tell their stories to their fullest potential. The wide range of content within the Features department allowed my editing skills to grow tremendously. My work encompassed all skill sets - producing shoots, organizing assignments, guiding photographers, and working with every type of colleague that can be found at a magazine, newspaper, agency, or wire service.
With a burning desire to establish some roots in a vibrant city, I accepted a call to come to New York City and work for the Associated Press. I felt this opportunity as national photo editor in the main AP headquarters would return me to a wider view of news beyond regional coverage. Unfortunately I found over time that my talent was not utilized to its fullest extent. I received surprise call from World Picture Network and I seized the opportunity to try something new. It was yet another chance to strengthen my versatility.
As I approach three years with WpN, my professional contacts have extended worldwide. As a senior photo editor, I have been responsible for the development of the agency's assignment division. I serve as the editorial thrust behind the execution, management, delivery and follow up of photography assignments for dozens of editorial and corporate clients worldwide. I also recruit new photographer talent to meet those needs and I have helped create an infrastructure for tracking hundreds of news and feature assignments.
My professional choices in the past have not been linear, thus producing eyes that have seen different styles, locations, and approaches. The future continues to unfold……..