Judy Beedle is a woman who believes “the truth can only stare you in the face for so long before you have to do something about it.” Armed with an engaging sense of wit, a laugh that warms you like a fire on a cold evening and an incredible ability to capture the very essence of people on film, this photographer is determined to turn her creative dreams into a successful reality. On this page, she shares her story and offers excellent advice, for those working full-time or part-time and/or raising children, on how to pursue photography, even with a hectic lifestyle.

Photo by Judy Beedle
CN: You recently made a major move from full-time status to part-time status at your job so that you could spend more time on photography. Congratulations! What made you decide that now is the time to pursue your passion?
Judy: It’s now or never! A few years ago, good friend told me that was his motto for the year. I guess I just felt the time was right to adopt it as my own. My employer and I had a few discussions about what would happen if I went part time. We finally agreed to give it a try. Perhaps I am lucky in that regard. I love where I work and who I work with but I need my photography to feel fulfilled. I had put it off for too long. So, I think I really had to make the change for my own happiness.
CN: What obstacles - financial, time, personal fears - held you from focusing on photography until now? How are you working to overcome them?
Judy: I think the first and biggest obstacle is always, fear. Fear that I’m not good enough, don’t know enough, won’t be able to pay the bills, etc. The fear makes the money and time worries bigger. So I suddenly realized that I had to believe in myself much more. I had to be ok with screwing up occasionally before I could take the leap. I also chatted with people about it and one thing was repeated to me, “Be ok with working your tail off and not making much money for the first year. As long as you keep plugging away, it will pay off.” That’s what I’m doing, and I’m actually enjoying it. Honestly, those obstacles aren’t gone; I’m just not focused on them quite as much anymore.
CN: Photography has clearly been a lifelong passion of yours. What are your first camera/photo memories?
Judy: My first camera was actually a KODAK disk camera. I brought that thing with me everywhere and took pictures of everyone I knew, including all of my friends sleeping at various slumber parties. How obnoxious! (She laughs). In my senior year in high school, I got a 35 mm CanonT50 and felt like I had finally arrived. But that camera and I never really bonded. I never got the hang of the controls. I borrowed my cousin’s Pentax k1000 for a photo class in college and all the stuff with f-stops and whatnot finally clicked. That summer I bought my own k1000 at a local camera shop on sale. My mother almost passed out that the cost was $109 but it was hands-down the best hundred bucks I ever spent. I still own that camera, have vowed to never get rid of it, and occasionally I pick it up because I still love how it feels in my hands. I have always thought I was so lucky to get one of the last k1000 ever made.
Photo by Judy Beedle
CN: What is your ultimate creative dream?
Judy: Besides having a collection of my work published in a beautiful hardcover book, I would want to be commissioned to hit the road with my camera to capture Americana and the people that are part of it. It’s been done over and over but for me it’s something that doesn’t get old. Then that would lead to a book, and maybe more travel…
If I could have met Henri Cartier-Bresson that would have been a dream come true.
CN: What keeps you motivated to work on photography every week?
Judy: It’s as simple as I love how I feel after a day of walking around with my camera. Everyone has their thing that makes them tick, photography gets to be mine. I also get motivated by talking ’shop’ with other creative types, going to art shows, and looking at other work whether it’s in a local bookstore or on someone’s Flickr account. Right now my juices are also flowing because I have agreed to do a book with a writer friend in NYC of my photos and her poetry. So, a good project also helps keep me motivated!
CN: How do you challenge yourself to keep your artwork fresh and constantly evolving?
Judy: Right now, I am doing a new thing where I contact other photographers. Some I sort of know, some I have never even heard of until a friend gives me their name. I ask them if they want to meet up for coffee and photo chat. I am not trying to steal ideas; it’s about sharing in the mutual joy of making images and therefore inspiring one another. Doors open and emails are exchanged more regularly, and it’s a big cycle that makes me want to get out more and shoot and then meet up with someone to share and chat. I have been pleasantly surprised at how open people are to that kind of thing and I think it’s definitely helping my work.
Photo by Judy Beedle
CN: What are you striving for from your work? When you take photos, do you have one specific focus? For example, do you prefer to photograph people over landscapes?
Judy: People are my subject of choice, but I sometimes do landscapes, of sorts. I want people to feel like they know something about the person I’m photographing when they see the work hanging somewhere, even if it’s their own interpretation. Photos that tell stories or have a way of pulling you (the viewer) in are, in my opinion, the most powerful.
CN: Do you ever try to capture something in a photo only to find you captured something completely different when you saw the end result?
Judy: Totally! I think those are called ‘happy accidents.’ This happens often when I do something known as “shooting from the hip” where you shoot without looking through the lens. Sometimes your camera is literally at hip level. It’s one of my favorite practices. Just a few days ago, I was taking a photo of a storefront and was very excited when I realized that my camera got more than the items in the window! It got all the clouds in the sky, and 2 buildings across the street in the reflection and it was very clear, almost like it had been double-exposed. A friend was with me and we were taking turns with each of our cameras, then getting giddy with excitement at the surprises we were getting.
Photo by Judy Beedle
CN: You were working on your craft while working a full-time job. What advice would you give to people who are looking to pursue photography but have a full-time job and/or kids?
Judy: My first thought would be to find people in the field and work them into your network somehow. Find people who can help with technical questions or who may pass work your way when they are unavailable. Photography can be a weekend and/or 2nd job. It can also be a perfect gig for those with kids. Think of all the networking you can do when you bring your kids to school, practice, and dance class, whatever! Take one family portrait and soon everyone in your circle will know about it. My other piece of advice would be to carry a camera, even a small point and shoot, with you everywhere you go. Photograph the kids sleeping in the car, covered in melting ice cream, running in the park. You will be improving your shooting skills and the general understanding of your equipment. If you work full-time and don’t have kids, I would still say the same for networking and bringing your camera with you; anything that keeps you shooting. If you have your camera you will use it. Trust me. Mine is a heavy reminder pulling on my neck, almost nagging me to use it.
CN: What advice would you give to someone working a part-time job, as you are, looking to pursue this field?
Judy: For the part timers out there, same advice – start to build a network, carry the camera with you and perhaps, if you have more time in your schedule, take a class if you feel you need to learn more. You will meet up with others (so helpful! I’m tellin’ ya), and maybe pick a project that keeps you shooting, whether it’s for pay or not. Remember the more you are getting out there doing the work, the more it will pay off for you. Even shows of your work in coffee shops will get business for you so, don’t be shy!
Drop by Judy Beedle Photography to see more of her inspiring work.