Feature Friday: Scott Thomason Photography

We’re on quite the roll with the Feature Friday posts this year. I am happy to introduce our first photography feature of the year, Scott Thomason. If you’re familiar with my cosplay then you’ve already seen some of his work because he was the man who shot the Belle at the Biltmore photoshoot. Make sure to read the entire feature if for nothing else but to see the other photos. He has been doing photography for quite a long time, and he is very talented. Oh, did I mention that he’s also an Engineer by Day?

Scott Thomason Photography

What is your photography name? Scott Thomason Photography

What is your name? Scott Thomason

What do you do when you do when you aren’t behind the lens? I work way too many hours as a mechanical engineer designing wind turbines, with occasional breaks to see my family and go fly airplanes.

How old are you? 48, but I swear I was 32 last week.

When did you first decide to become a photographer? I started when my dad loaned me his camera when I was around 12 or so. I got my first real camera when I was 15, and spent many years not doing it very seriously. I went digital in 2012, and started portrait work a few years later.

What made you want to be a photographer? It was always fun to grab that special moment either in sports, with friends, or that fleeting moment of scenery on vacation. Now, I really enjoy meeting new interesting people, and trying to capture what makes them special.

Tell us about your photography style. I don’t have a true defined “style”. I try to be good at everything, and do what is interesting at the time. The one consistent thing is that I strive for is accuracy – in focus and in color (when used). I try to edit it as I remember it to give the viewer the feeling I’m trying to remember. I like dramatic images and lighting, and have an affinity for off-camera flash.

What is your weapon/camera of choice? I use a crop-sensor Nikon D7100. It’s fast, flexible to use, and easy to quickly adjust. It also focuses well in low light levels, which is more important to me than I would have thought. It can also use any lens that Nikon has made since I was born. I added a vertical battery grip so I can more easily take portrait orientation (vertical) shots.

What is your favorite cosplay photograph you have taken? That’s difficult. I think probably my series of pictures of Sybil (White Knight Cosplay) as Bombshell Wonder Woman with a World War 2 fighter. The clouds were cool, the airplane was dramatic, and she looked very powerful. It was also only my second shoot of cosplay, and I was trying a new lighting system. It turned out better than I thought it would. I also got to meet her whole family. The one of you in your yellow Belle dress in B&W and the set with Lindsay (Kyber Knight Cosplay) as a Bombshell Black Canary are right there with it for sure. Not just because are they great pictures, but because it meant so much to all of you. I’ve really just started with Cosplay, so I’m sure there will be some epic ones coming.

What is your favorite photograph you have ever taken? I have no idea. Somewhere deep in an album I haven’t seen in a while is an old picture that will bring back memories. I should go look at them. The one of my pregnant wife at Death Valley for Christmas and the one of Yosemite Falls I took with my Dad’s medium format film camera come to mind. One of the Grand Tetons during my engagement trip was awesome – My wife thought she was gonna die on the ice field over the ridge line!

Since Valentine’s day was this week, what is the most romantic photo you have ever taken? I’m not the most romantic person, but I’d say the picture I took of my wife and I in Yellowstone National park during our engagement trip. We were young, looking forward to the future, and enjoying our adventure together. It’s only us standing in a field with the mountains behind us, but that trip was one we’ve never forgotten.

What are some of your dream photoshoots you would like to do? If I could combine my love of fashion, landscape, and aviation into one shot, that would be awesome. Taking a model to Iceland or Death Valley with some dramatic clothes would be amazing too.

What is your biggest challenge as a photographer? Time. It takes time to plan, shoot, and then edit. I usually get excited and take too many, and then don’t have enough time to edit what I have. I always say I have more ideas than time. That and getting the focus perfect.

Who are the biggest inspirations/influencers in your photography? Early on it was the great landscape artists like Ansel Adams and Galen Rowell. Now, its people like Rachel Nellville, Annie Leibovitz, Peter Lindbergh, Jason Lavengood, Kai York, Will Crooks, and a whole lot of very talented people I follow on Instagram. There really are a lot of good artists out there.

What is the best advice you have for models as a photographer? First, be safe. Make sure your photographer is a photographer and not a guy with a camera. Check up on them. Come to a shoot with ideas. I know I appreciate it when my subject ideas ready. A good creative person will accept ideas and maybe use them in ways you haven’t considered. Be on time, and communicate well and effectively.

What is the best advice you have for aspiring photographers? Learn. Read. Experiment. Learn to see. Learn everything about your camera and lighting systems so you can makes changes and adapt quickly. Learn to shoot in manual mode. Treat people well. Be a source of comfort and stability, not anxiety. Be on time, and communicate well and effectively.

Which of his photos was your favorite? It’s hard to choose. Make sure to check out Scott’s social media below, and give him a follow before you go. Leave a comment for us below, and don’t forget to subscribe via email or Bloglovin’ to never miss a post!

Scott’s Social Media
General Instagram: @scott.thomason.photo
Portrait Instagram: @st.photo.portrait
Facebook: Scott Thomason Photography
Flickr: Scott’s Lightplay