Todd White is a renowned photographer and filmmaker whose work has been featured in prestigious publications like Vogue, Elle, and The Wall Street Journal. He has won four Daytime Emmy Awards, and his feature documentary on the Dan Moody trial was showcased at the Austin Film Festival. White is also a LUMIX Ambassador, showcasing LUMIX cameras in his professional work. His transition from the corporate world to becoming a successful photographer and filmmaker demonstrates how pursuing your passion and embracing new challenges can lead to success.
White’s story began in San Antonio, Texas, where his passion for photography was ignited during his high school years. With a Minolta Maxxum 7000, he delved into the world of film photography, initially as a hobby. With a degree in political science, Todd transitioned into the tech industry, where he became a technology trainer and instructor at Cisco Systems.
Photographer Todd White shooting a portrait with a LUMIX S5II.
His pivotal moment came during a trip to India with Cisco. Captivated by the vibrant culture and people, Todd rediscovered his passion for photography, shifting his focus from architecture and landscapes to capturing the essence of people and their stories.
A Bold Leap
White’s corporate career ended in a soul-searching decision. Faced with the task of relocating jobs from California to India, he realized he needed a change. Encouraged by his wife, he began building his photography business, gradually replacing his corporate income. When Cisco announced a major layoff, White seized the opportunity to fully transition into photography, backed by a nice severance package.
White’s entry into professional photography was not without challenges. From building his reputation to networking aggressively, he leveraged every opportunity, even offering free services to establish a foothold. His big break came when he was commissioned to photograph Carrie Underwood for “People Magazine”, leading to further commercial gigs. “That was a pretty big jumping off point for me with other artists and musicians,” said White. “I also had companies hire me and ask if I could come shoot their Christmas party, come shoot this and that, which led to bigger clients like Facebook and Pinterest hiring me for their South by Southwest activations."
White’s exploration of fashion photography began with Austin Fashion Week. Volunteering initially, he quickly gained recognition, eventually becoming the media director. His work connected him with designers globally, which enabled him to get his foot in the door in fashion photography. White’s photos, characterized by warm, natural tones and minimal post-processing, became his trademark.
An unexpected opportunity with the Texas travel show, "The Daytripper," introduced White to video production, in which he started as a still photographer for the show’s promotion. “I'm sitting around killing time while they're doing interviews and stuff,” recalled White. “Why not have me help the other shooter by doing some pickup shots, some B-roll stuff, and so I pitched that idea to the team. It just grew from there to where I’m shooting a lot doing the drone work, grabbing both the video and photography side of it, and then also picked up on the producing side.”
White shot stills of the band, HUNNY, for his work at Southwestern University.
Learning on the job, he evolved from a photographer to a multi-talented videographer and producer, contributing significantly to the show's success and earning four Emmy Awards for his efforts.
Joining Southwestern University
Currently, Todd serves as the Visual Content Producer at Southwestern University, capturing the diverse experiences of students through photography and video. From sports events to scientific research, his work showcases campus life and enhances the university’s marketing efforts. According to White, the university requires campaigns for various purposes such as fundraising, sending information to parents, admissions, and recruiting. They share stories through these campaigns on their YouTube channel, highlighting student achievements and projects.
“My job looks different practically every day,” revealed White. ”I can be out shooting sports content, and I did a documentary last year on four of our female tennis players who became All-American. to shooting football to shooting the swim team. Last semester I found myself kayaking in multiple rivers around the area on Lake Georgetown, as well as caving in a research cave."
White’s professional journey took another exciting turn when he was approached by LUMIX. Drawn by their innovative features like in-body stabilization and exceptional color science, he became an ambassador for the brand. His current go-to equipment includes the LUMIX S5II, which he uses for its seamless photo and video capabilities. “I also really love the exposure tools we have, whether I'm using the Zebras or the Luminance Spot Meter, all of that works great for me,” revealed White. “I also find that our new autofocusing systems to be really great, especially with the S5II and S5IIX."
White shooting football team players with the S5II.
Reflecting on his diverse career, Todd advises aspiring photographers not to overspend on gear but learn the gear you absolutely need. He also emphasizes the importance of business side of things – from understanding taxes to effective marketing. "For me, it's about experimenting a lot at first, but then really narrowing down and honing in. This way, you can focus on what you need to grow and make yourself different. There are a lot of wedding photographers out there, and it's hard to stand out. You have to pick something that really sets you apart.”
For more information on Todd White’s work, visit his personal website at https://www.toddwhitestudios.com/.
