Terrence Keith
IT Guy and Photographer from Newport News, Virginia.
"Hidden Artistic Compositions..."
While he has only been shooting “professionally” for about 6½ years, and only shooting as a business for one, he has carried a camera with him pretty much everywhere since 1988. During that time it was film, and he loved it because there were so many things you had to be mindful of; unlike digital, you couldn’t delete and re-shoot. Oftentimes you wouldn’t even have a second chance, so you had to really know what you were doing before the shutter button was pressed.
His first full-blown “photo-shoot” was a boudoir session for a dear friend. He remembers that he was nervous because he wanted it to be perfect. He also remembers there was this one shot, that she wanted to do, and it just happened! One of the most amazing photographs he has ever taken. He still marvels at it from time to time.
He shares that Landscape Photography is his passion.
He loves finding ruins, or anything that is abandoned. He's really partial to looking at common everyday things as if they are hidden artistic compositions. He fell into Portrait Photography because of family and friends requesting portraits pretty often. Then he found Fashion Photography, which he has grown to love, by a total accident but he is really digging it right now. 
In the world of photography he doesn't consider himself “gifted” at all. Honestly, he claims he is kinda so-so, but he loves what he does, and he loves how people feel about his work. He has never had any formal education, but he has no problem doing research, and asking questions. He has connected with so many amazing artists and photographers that have helped him improve his craft, that he can’t even begin to name them all!
There are only a few things that he considers “challenges” during shoots. The first one is MAKEUP. When it is done right, he can deal with almost anything else. When it’s wrong, well, he gets a headache. Sometimes, less really is more. The other peeve is posing. He doesn't mind if the model isn’t experienced, but if they consider themselves a pro but posing them is like "manipulating a burlap bag of rocks", then things aren’t going to go smoothly. Lastly, he finds bad attitudes a major creative turn-off. If they come in like they own the place and begin their conversation like he is their butler, the session is not going to go well, if at all. Photography is FUN, and for him, it’s going to stay that way!
There are so many people he would love to photograph, but if he could pick only one well-known person, today, it would be former President Obama. If for nothing else, he thinks that conversation would be amazing, even if they did NOT say a word about politics. He has a lot of respect for former President Obama as a person, just watching his interactions with people and with kids. He’s got what he calls “The Grandpa Gene” and he reminds Terrence of his father-in-law in that respect. The photographs would be a treasure to him, but that conversation? Priceless.
He has done a lot of shoots in various places but if he could do a photo-shoot anywhere in the world it would definitely be Tuscany. He relates that the reason is because he and his wife watched “Under the Tuscan Sun” and fell in love with the region. He's a hardcore suburbanite, but he loves the rustic appeal of that entire region. It’s as if time just kind of… stopped there. It’s romantic.
The projects or events that are emerging is the anticipated collaboration with he and a fellow photographer. They are working on a coffee table book, which has him super excited. He is also going to be revamping some work he did for the anniversary of Nat Turner’s Insurrection. That project was on display in Norfolk a couple of years ago, but this time it’s going to be more exciting, and he is going to dig into the history, and the artistry of the project a lot more.
When asked if he had any other gifts or talents he laughs saying how he used to be a pretty decent singer, and a pretty good saxophonist too. He smiles saying that he should have been a musician, but life had other plans.
His Advice To Up and Coming Photographers
"Don’t forget that photography is about expression. Don’t get too wrapped up in being super-technical, unless that’s your thing. Knowledge of your craft is good, but being able to evoke a feeling in your audience is even better. Focus on pictures that put the viewer IN the moment, pull them into the story."
He can be found at the following web sites:
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