Photography Interview with Josh Newton

He might be known better as an international wedding photographer, but this week’s photo judge would rather be thought of as a servant and adventurer. We’re pleased to welcome Josh Newton to the I Heart Faces community!

Josh writes:
Hi, I’m Josh Newton and while photography is my calling and business, I am someone who loves life and wants to live it out to the fullest. I love staying in shape, traveling, camping, eating healthy, swing dancing, and good coffee. I grew up in Alaska, was a pre-med major in college, but started my business at the end of my junior year and fell in love with photography. My dream is to serve others with my time and abilities, only through God’s grace.

Josh’s Photography Journey

I have always loved photography, but have never wanted it to define me. I want to be a friend, husband (someday!), and adventurer first. Photography just happens to help me do that, sometimes really well! So many people define success as money, fame, talent, etc and no matter what I do in life, I want success in my life to equal how well I loved others and how much I did my best to make the world a better place. I found photography in high school, when my dad made our sauna at our house into a dark room. I was exposed (haha no pun intended) to all of the process of shooting, using all the chemicals and an enlarger, and I was intrigued. It wasn’t until college that I REALLY fell in love with photography though, and I have David Jay to thank for that. He helped me launch my business, inspired me to become better, and I photographed my first wedding with him. People started telling me that they loved my photos and thought I should pursue it, and the jobs just fell into place.

Q&A with Josh

• What was your favorite photography moment from this past year?  Getting to go with 80 medical professionals to a remote village in Guatemala and photograph about 100 different surgeries and help out in any way I could. I got to photograph dozens of kids that went in with cleft lips and came out looking like any other beautiful kid. So many lives were changed that week and I was honored to be a part of it all.
• Where do you find inspiration to keep your photography creative and unique? I find my inspiration for photography in a lot of places, but what inspires me most is a good conversation, someone who challenges me in my business, books that I read, and an amazing sunset or sunrise out in the middle of nature. Nothing speaks to my soul like being out in the wilderness and I cherish those moments so much. I also look at all my friends work and see what they’re doing different/better than me – editing, composition, angles, lenses, and whatever else they’re doing different than me. I also have to keep things fresh – just shoot for FUN. I find that if I don’t do that enough, I lose my passion and creativity for photography sometimes and that’s never a fun place to be in.
• Is there a particular photographer whose work inspires you? There are a number of photographers that inspire me but here are a few: Jeff Newsom, Image is Found, Max Wanger, Montana Dennis, Bobby Earle, and David Jay
• Do you carry your camera with you everywhere?  I actually don’t! I like being a normal person a lot of the time But I do carry my iPhone 4s with me everywhere, and that might as well as be my professional camera. Instagram rocks my world.
• Do you have a “most embarrassing” or “most stressful” moment you would like to share?Most embarrassing moment… this year actually! I was at a friend’s wedding and about 10 friends asked me to take a photo of them. Well, there was a huge centerpiece in the way and so I thought I’d just set it on the ground for a second while I grabbed the photo. Well… instead of the flowers being inside the vase, they just sat on top of it – attached to this sponge thing. So… yup, the whole thing fell over and crashed on the floor. And yes… everyone looked at me. Awesome.
• Favorite quote? Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is is people who have come alive. -Howard Thurman

To see more of Josh’s work, be sure to visit his blog, Facebook, Twitter, and website, .

We are so glad to work with you as our Guest Photographer Judge, Josh! We can’t wait to see which photos you choose as your favorites from our “Autumn Splendor” photo challenge.

Josh just being himself