Welcome to the second installment of our four-part interview with Todd Bigelow where he shares his photography stories. Todd is a professional photographer, business of photography instructor, and a highly regarded expert in the field. With years of experience leading workshops across North America, Todd has guided countless photographers through the complexities of the industry. He’s also the author of an essential book on the business of photography, which you can find here. Don’t miss this insightful, edited conversation!
The following text is a brief snippet of the conversation transcribed from an interview conducted by Betty of Cradoc fotoSoftware in February 2025. To watch this and other interviews, visit the Cradoc fotoSoftware YouTube Channel.
Photography Stories: How a College Photojournalism Class Sparked a Career
I entered college as an accounting major which maybe came in a little handy later when I went freelance. But really the beginning of it for me was taking a photojournalism course, my very first photojournalism course. And I was just immediately enamored of everything.
I was raised in a house where my parents read the newspaper, discussed the news. We were involved with what was going on in the world. My mom was fairly politically active and so I grew up very aware of what was transpiring around the world. And then when I took Photojournalism 350, which is what the actual course number was, I fell in love with it, and I literally went and told my parents I think I’m going to switch my major. I’m pretty sure I recall my father not being super happy about it. My mother seemed pretty thrilled by it, and then it just went forward from there.
I got my first internship, unpaid, while I was working my way through college. I had a job at Ralph’s Grocery Store as a checker, and then working a forty-hour internship, so I was really doing about fifty-five hours a week, and then also doing my last couple of semesters of courses. But that led to my first job, and from there you just never look back; you just go.
Curious about what it takes to become a photographer? Discover how one photographer found their way in this photographer story.
About Todd Bigelow
A contributing photographer with Contact Press Images, Todd Bigelow creates compelling still photography and multimedia content for top publications, nonprofits, foundations, and corporations worldwide. Their work has been featured in Sports Illustrated, TIME, The New York Times Magazine, ESPN, Smithsonian, Der Spiegel, and more. Independent projects and assignments through Contact Press Images have been licensed by major media outlets, including Vox, Politico, NBC News, and The New York Times Magazine.
With a strong ability to research, develop, and pitch impactful visual stories, Todd has collaborated with leading national publications such as TIME, Politico, NBC News, LA Times, and Public Radio International. They also work closely with mission-driven nonprofits and foundations—including the Southern Poverty Law Center, AARP, and the Irvine Foundation—to craft powerful visual narratives that support advocacy and awareness.
Todd is the author of The Freelance Photographer’s Guide to Success: Business Essentials (Focal Press/Routledge, 2021), a comprehensive resource offering practical guidance on building a sustainable freelance photography career.
Website: Todd Bigelow Photography
Instagram: @tbfreelance
Facebook: Todd Bigelow
LinkedIn: Todd Bigelow
Twitter (X): @ToddBigPhoto
Book: The Freelance Photographer’s Guide to Success
Business of Photography Workshop
See other great interview and photography stories transcripts:
- Todd Bigelow
- Jonathan Kingston
- Julie Bidwell
- Steve Whittaker
- Scott Dworkin
