Today we’d like to introduce you to Joey Rushfield.
Hi Joey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Photography was one of my last options for an elective class in eighth grade at CESJDS in Rockville. I had been interested in it as a kid (special thanks to the influence of my great uncle, Ted Horowitz), but why would I take that class, I thought, if I could take a study hall, where I could just slack off? I signed up with the plan to change electives to study hall if a slot opened up (it did), but being the renowned ADHD’er I am, I didn’t make the swap in time. In that class, I met the photography teacher I’d work with for the next five years who I would remain friends with for the near-decade since then. Jerry Eisner, my photography teacher, and Ted Horowitz, my great uncle, are the ones I credit the most with establishing my passion for photography.
By 14, I had gotten involved with the aptly-named “Teenage Instagram Photographer” (TIP for short) community on Instagram and Facebook. I found endless sources of inspiration from these photographers, some of whom remain friends of mine over ten years later. For such an uncreatively-named community, some incredible talents came out of there — just off the top of my head, Alex Stoddard, Julia Trotti, Brandon Woelfel, and many more were creating their careers around this same peer group, at the same time. Many sought inspiration from Brooke Shaden as she made her rise and conceptual portrait photography was most of the community members’ niche of choice. Mine too, for a while — until I realized I could combine my passion for photography with my growing involvement in the local rock and metal music scene as a concert photographer.
My dad got me into my first show with a camera. Baltimore’s own All Time Low played a small benefit show at the Baltimore Soundstage. My dad pulled some strings (a story for another day) and I was sidestage with him, my Nikon D5100 and a 5omm f/1.4 lens being my arsenal for the event. This love for concert photography persisted into my college years at Goucher College in Towson, though it was brought to an unceremonious end by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Like many, my mental health rapidly deteriorated over that time period, and I lost interest in most things I previously liked, even including photography. It was until I had earned my Associate’s Degree in Elementary Education and was planning on where/what to study for my Bachelor’s that I asked myself, “what am I *actually* interested in?”
I have always loved working with kids and to this day still work as a teacher, even though I effectively went full time with photography over a year ago. But still, when faced with the question of what I wanted to study in order to check the box of a Bachelor’s Degree for job applications, I realized I needed passion — true passion — to propel myself forward. Ironically, about ten years after I had reluctantly signed up for photography class in middle school, it returned to my life as my chosen field of study and driving passion in college. When I started taking photos again, I knew that was it. That was what I wanted to do. I dove in headfirst and haven’t looked back, to the point that I’m now actually going to be leaving my teaching job after 2026 to truly go full-time, night-and-day, with photography.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
COVID… Mental health… Competing interests… so many struggles. But above all, the greatest struggle has been proving to myself that photography was a viable career path. When I have a goal I really care about, I don’t half-ass it. I needed to know that there was a realistic, sustainable way for me to let my passion for photography design my future. Otherwise, it would’ve just ended up a (very) expensive hobby.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in portrait and wedding photography… I know, I know, you’ve heard that before. The thing that, in my opinion, sets me apart is my blending of approaches to photography and editing. My photo sessions, especially weddings, stand out for being a balance of fine art portrait photography and documentary, photojournalistic photography where I try to be the least obtrusive as possible but walk away with the most gallery-frameable artwork as possible. This has been what makes surprise proposals such a favorite (and specialty) of mine: they’re a perfect mix of photojournalistic coverage and a proper posed portrait session where we can be as creative as we’d like. I say “we” with intent, too: I think photography is done at its best when collaboration is central to its execution. I love to hear my clients’ ideas for poses and their creative thoughts, and they have fun with that, too. It makes the art more meaningful when we’ve both been involved in creating it.
Any big plans?
It’s funny, I type this as I plan to go into work tomorrow to tell my boss during our weekly meeting that next year I will be going 100% full-time with photography. I want to give him as much time as he can have to start looking for a replacement for me, since my role is fairly hard to fill. And, of course, to hear his congratulations, because it’s always great to hear nice things. He’s made a huge difference in my life and is the best boss I’ve ever had, so it equally matters more when I hear congratulations from him *and* explains why I want to give him as much warning as possible.
Pricing:
- All pricing information can be found at jrushphoto.com/pricing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jrushphoto.com
- Instagram: @jrushphoto
