Jeff Clow is a full-time professional landscape and travel photographer based in Dallas, Texas. But here’s the thing, he didnt start out that way. Just a few years ago, he was nothing more than a point-and-shoot family photographer. He spent years as a leadership consultant, working in food packaging and home healthcare products. Then he discovered Flickr in 2004, and everything changed.
He calls himself an “accidental professional” because he never set out to make a living from photography. He just wanted to get better at the craft. He read everything he could, shot thousands of bad photos, and slowly started improving. His Flickr account now has over 12,700 followers and 4.5 million views. He’s also got a huge following on 500px and other platforms.
His work has been featured in Popular Photography and on the covers of books, magazines, calendars, and even music albums. He’s represented by Getty Images with a stock portfolio of over 1,000 images. His photos have been used in marketing campaigns by companies like AOL, Disney, Time, and Fortune. Not bad for a guy who started with a point-and-shoot.
“I’m a regular guy who happens to have a real passion for photography. I am self taught and I’ve made every mistake a photographer can make – and learned from it.”
That quote sums up his whole approach. He’s humble about his success, but he’s also put in the work. He shoots with Nikon gear, a D800 and a D7000. His passions include landscape, nature, travel, macro, and black and white photography. He loves nature in all its forms, from wildlife and birds to trees and plants.
He also runs a company called Dirt Cheap Photo Tours. He named it that because he wanted to create a workshop experience that anyone could afford. Most photography workshops are expensive, but his tours are under $1000 for three plus days of prime shooting. He leads tours in places like Grand Teton, Banff, and Arches National Parks.
Q: What kind of photography does Jeff Clow do?
A: He’s a landscape and travel photographer, but he also does nature, wildlife, macro, and black and white photography. He shoots everything from grand mountain scenes to intimate portraits of birds and animals.
He’s also written a bestselling eBook called “The Dirt Cheap Photo Guide to Grand Teton National Park”. It’s available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the iTunes book store. He’s been a photo tour host for years, and over half of his participants come back for a second or third tour. His clients say he’s a superb photographer and an excellent teacher.
Q: Where can I see Jeff Clow’s work?
A: You can find his work on Flickr, 500px, and his stock portfolio on Getty Images. He also has a website and runs Dirt Cheap Photo Tours. He’s active on social media and still leads photo tours across North America.
