Timothy J. Engle

Timothy J. Engle has built a reputation for capturing clean, striking imagery with just the right twist. From experimenting with bold lighting setups to drawing inspiration from photography greats like Patrick Demarchelier, Timothy approaches his work with both precision and creativity. What began as a camera in hand to navigate social situations has evolved into a full-time career, supported by corporate clients, private commissions, and a trusted production team. In this interview, Timothy shares his process, inspirations, challenges, and the philosophy that continues to shape his journey behind the lens.

Follow Timothy on Instagram @englephoto_inc

Portfolio: https://www.englephoto.com

Contact Tim: https://www.englephoto.com/contact // http://www.linkedin.com/in/timenglephoto

What is your style? Describe it.

Clean beauty with just a little twist at the end..

What is your process? Describe your treatments.

I try to do as much as I can in camera. I don’t like sitting at the computer and editing. As for lighting, I love different light temperatures. I may combine 3 different light sources on an image.

How do you make a living off your work, or do you? Is there someone who supports you?

Photography has been my main income for a while now. Most of my money comes from corporate and private clients.

What inspires you for a shoot? Why?

I love to push the button! I’m constantly seeing images. I’m very lucky to have a MUSE/production manager who I can collaborate with and rely on for her skills in front and behind the camera.

Do you plan the entire shoot concept, or have help?

As I have progressed I have surrounded myself with an amazing team who are the best at what they do. That, along with an amazingly talented production manager have elevated what I do.

Who do you look up to in the industry? Why?

Most of my inspiration comes from the greats of years past. The photographer that I watched growing up is Patrick Demarchelier. I still look at his images in total awe!

How do you sell your work, your own site, a provider? Any advice to others?

It’s rare for me to sell my work.

If I do it’s typically to personal clients and families. I use Zenfolio for that. I’ve tried selling fine art in the past with limited success. It’s not something that I count on for income.

How do you take criticism? DO you take it well? How do you manage criticism? Why does it affect you good/negative?

Criticism is a funny thing. For years I used to take it very personally, but something clicked and I quit really worrying about what others thought. It seems like that’s the point in which I really became satisfied with my work. I also started developing an audience for what I was doing. It used to be that I tried to fit the audience, now I find that the audience fits me and my work. There are still those times that criticism can affect me. When it does affect me, it is usually from people in the industry that I respect and look up to. In that case, I use it as constructive and learn from it.

Are you self taught, educate? College, online classes, tutorials, Self Taught? What steps did you take to learn your craft?

I did study photography in college, but of course it was very different. I learned on film and medium format cameras. Understanding and knowing how film works and how to work with it has given me a leg up in the digital world. For the second half of my career, I’m self-taught. I’m still constantly reading and looking for information and tips. That’s the wonderful thing about photography; you can continue to learn and evolve your entire life.

Who would you like to shoot? Celebrities, model, designer? Why?

I would probably choose celebrities. To be able to work with people that can give you a different range of emotions and attitudes would be so cool!

If you left a time capsule of your work, what would you leave in it? Would it be digital or physical paper? What would it consist?

I would leave black-and-white prints. Black-and-white gives it that timeless feel and it would probably be images of just my everyday life. I think images of my family and friends and the world I had around me at that time.

What caused you to become a photographer/fashion photographer/artist/Designer? Why?

I was very shy growing up and received a camera early in life. It became my security blanket or shield in social situations. Still to this day I’m not always comfortable in public settings without a camera.

How do you manage a project? Do you prefer a team, or being a one stop shop? Why?

For years it was just me. But I realized in order to go to the next level I needed to have a talented team around me. So now I have a production manager who’s with me at all my shoots. Then, we assemble a team depending on the style of the shoot or the look we are going for.

Do you prefer to shoot men, women models? Why is your preference for one and not the other.

I don’t have a preference as to who I shoot. I just love a great face man or woman even children. Some of my favorite images from last year are of portraits of an older actor. He had so much character in his face.

I do love working with beautiful women. There’s nothing like a gorgeous face with the perfect job to photograph. I’m very fortunate in that my production manager is also my MUSE. Which is a great help because we can produce great images on our downtime.

What is your preferred subject matter? Why?

Shoots where I have to build the light. I love challenging lighting situations.

Do you edit your own work? If so, explain why.

For probably 90% of my work I do my own editing. It just makes it easier as I normally have a vision in my head when i’m shooting. So it makes it much faster when I’m sitting at the computer and know where I want to go with the image. For larger jobs I do send it out to somebody who does it for a living. Just like a great makeup artist or great hairstylist, a great editor can make or break the image.

What did you want to be when you were little? Why?

I don’t think I ever had a clear vision as a child of what I wanted to be in the future. I’ve always been the type of person that is interested in what’s happening right now. I don’t even look that far ahead in planning, I just focus on what’s happening today and tomorrow.

When do you know your image is done when editing? What gives you that indication?

When it gives off a warm glow just kidding. I’ve developed a rhythm on images and that once I go through the steps it’s normally done. I just try to make sure that there’s no visual detractors, or something they can take away from the image in a negative way.

Are you hands on, or prefer to let the artist/team you invite to work on a shoot? Do you take input, or is it all your way or the highway? Why?

I try to be very hands-on. In the end it’s still my image but I absolutely love the collaborative efforts of the team and I’m always open to great suggestions or different ideas. Without my team I’d be nowhere.

What do you listen to on a shoot? Editing? Why does it help you in your work?

I usually let the model or subject choose the music that we want to listen to on the shoot. I’m really easy and most times I don’t even hear (Unless it’s oldies barf) it when I’m shooting. When I’m editing it really depends on the edit. A lot of times I like to listen to Alt rock. I like something with high energy to keep me moving well as I’m editing.

How do you manage requests for free or TFP shoots? Why do/don’t you?

Very rarely do I do trade or TFP photos. It would have to be somebody that’s going to give me something different or better that I have in my portfolio already. A lot of times the best way to work with our team is to come on smaller projects or be one of the subjects when I’m teaching a class or seminar. I only work with people I’ve worked with in the past on large projects because I know they’re reliable and good.

Do you use Model Mayhem? Why?

I used to use it much more in the past when I was trying to work on a project or just network with the industry, but over time that’s become less and less. With Facebook and Instagram there so many ways to find talent and fresh faces.

Do you shoot signed agent models only? What agencies do you tend to work with most? What’s the difference in your opinion?

I don’t shoot with agency models that much. In our area there’s only one really good agency and I call on them from time to time.They’ve developed an excellent roster of fresh faces. And I love working locally with them.

What pisses you off most in your industry? What do you want to see changed?

I think when photographers buy their way into the industry. It’s so easy to buy an expensive camera and claim you’re a photographer. Everybody with the camera is now photographer. And so I think that decreases the value of the truly talented. If it was about a checkbook or who had the best camera, I would lose. I’ve done all the things I’ve done with minimal gear.

What was your favorite shoot? Why?

There is so many shoots that I love. One that stands out took place at the Preston Castle. That place is absolutely amazing! It’s an old abandoned boys reformatory. It offers such unique textures and light. I shoot out there every chance I get and it always gives me something different. The one shoot that sticks in my mind was one we did with model Christine in a white wig and white painted face. It was absolutely amazing!

Who is your favorite stylist? Why?

The one I’m working with that day.

Who is your favorite designer? Why?

Michael Kouri, because he’s a good friend of mine.

What is successful for you, in attracting work? Social networking, website, emails? Why?

That’s really difficult to pinpoint. I think anymore, no one thing works the best. I try to keep everything updated. Over time it’s become very apparent that networking and face-to-face meetings have been the most successful for me. Clients get so many images in emails on a regular basis that having a face attached to them is a big help.

What is your idea of success? Why?

Success is doing what you want every day with people you want to be with in the places you want be. And still being able to take care of family and loved ones.

Have you reached your ultimate level in your work? If not, what is your next step? Why?

I’m still so far from where I want to be. It’s a constant evolution. Daily I’m trying to refine and improve on everything we do. It truly is the journey not the destination.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Explain.

Doing what I’m doing today, better locations with the same people. I love the people I have around me now and I would never change that. I just want us all to continue on this path together.

If you could go back into time, what era would it be and why? what career would you want to have experienced and why?

Maybe the 60s I love that it was kind of at the beginning of a lot of things in photography. They’re such amazing images produced from that time so much unseen content to be had. I’d still be a photographer.

Do you prefer paper to digital? Why is it important to you?

I still like to hold a magazine in my hand as there is something about the ability to pick it up and put it down anywhere, anytime that I like. And seeing the images printed always elicits a different reaction.

What complications do you face in todays market of art? Money, business, competition? Why?

Everybody wants it faster and cheaper. There’s so much competition with anybody who can afford a camera and thinks they’re a photographer. Many clients do not perceive the value of a trained photographer and can’t understand why we charge what we charge. I always have to explain it’s not for that picture it’s for the thousands of images that I’ve made to make sure that I’m delivering to them the best product and most efficient time possible.

What Challenges do you encounter in todays market? What do you to face them and work against them?

Keeping up with the digital archive battle is the one I never saw coming to the degree it has. I have backups for my backups. It’s crazy! I have no idea what the future will be with all my images or where I’ll store them. With the huge file sizes now online is not an option.

Do you feel valued as an artist/photographer/designer? If you do/don’t, why?

I feel more valued than I did years ago. I think my longevity and my perseverance has paid off.

What do you want to be remembered for? History, fame, work? Why?

Always being open and willing to help others. I was treated badly by photographers I looked up to when I was starting out and it was very hurtful. What I took away from that was, don’t be a dick!

How do you want to inspire the world? Why?

I think producing great images and still being somebody who’s not a complete psycho. In the end I’m just pushing a button and I never want to take myself too seriously.