Thomas Strand Studio Featured in Voyage Minnesota
I was recently honored to be featured in Voyage Minnesota, where I had the opportunity to reflect on my creative journey, the realities of a long career in photography, and the values that continue to guide my work.
The interview asked thoughtful questions, not just about success, but about resilience, curiosity, and what it really means to sustain a creative career over decades. It prompted reflection on the winding path that has brought me here.
Walking a Path and Wandering the Side Trails
I’ve always been deeply curious. While I do feel a primary path beneath my feet, I’ve never believed that growth comes from staying narrowly focused on a single direction. Some of the most meaningful discoveries happen when you allow yourself to wander and explore the small side trails that lead into unfamiliar territory.
That mindset has stayed with me throughout my career, from decades spent adapting to constant changes in photography and technology, to my more recent work in fine-art pet portraiture and animal rescue.
A Career Built on Adaptation
Photography is a tough profession. It’s competitive, unpredictable, and humbling. There have been many moments when I truly considered giving up.
In the years leading up to 9/11, I was doing a large amount of corporate annual report work. I loved it; the assignments, the travel, the rhythm of the season. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, we were just entering annual report season. Nearly every client pulled the plug. I lost roughly 98% of my business overnight. That entire sector never really came back, and it took years to find new footing.
I eventually transitioned into magazine work, at one point shooting frequently for publications like BusinessWeek. There were periods where assignments came fast and often. But as many know, the world of print media steadily declined, and that income stream narrowed as well.
By 2006, I had rebuilt again and experienced my best year ever, shooting advertising campaigns and image libraries. Then came the housing crash. By 2009, work slowed to a crawl, and this was one of the lowest points both financially and emotionally. I trimmed expenses, stayed patient, and waited for the recovery, which eventually did come.
When COVID hit, I didn’t shoot a single assignment for an entire year. That period was difficult, but different. Everyone was in the same boat, and there was nowhere to pivot to. I hunkered down, focused on personal projects (including remodeling a bathroom), and trusted what I’ve learned over time: companies can’t survive without marketing forever. Work does return.
Finding Meaning Beyond Assignments
While those disruptions represent the lowest points, it’s just as important to recognize the highlights. When the economy isn’t in free fall and work is flowing, photography is an incredibly rewarding career. I’ve traveled to remarkable places, seen behind-the-scenes environments most people never experience, and met people who have left a lasting impression on me.
In recent years, some of the most meaningful work I’ve done has come from donating my time and skills to The Bond Between, a Minnesota-based animal rescue organization. Creating portraits that help long-term foster cats and dogs finally find their forever homes has reminded me why I fell in love with photography in the first place.
Alongside that work, I’ve begun offering private pet portrait commissions with a focus on black-and-white imagery, a slower, more intentional approach that allows me to create timeless artwork celebrating the bond between people and their animals.
Becoming Who You Were Before the World Told You Who to Be
One of the most personal parts of the Voyage Minnesota interview explored identity. As a child, I was curious and exploratory. Later, circumstances required me to become tougher and more closed off. It wasn’t until moving to California to attend Brooks Institute that I was able to rediscover myself, surrounded by diverse voices, perspectives, and creative freedom.
That openness continues to shape how I approach both my work and my life.
A Commitment That Never Ends
When asked about a belief or project I’m committed to, no matter how long it takes, the answer was easy: animal rescue.
This work has no finish line. There will always be animals in need, and I’m continually humbled by the people who dedicate their lives, often quietly and without recognition, to helping them. Donating my time and skills to organizations like The Bond Between has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life and career.
Photography, in this context, becomes a tool for empathy. A single image can help an overlooked animal finally be seen, and that is work I will always make room for.
Being Out of Your Depth and Staying There
The interview closed with a question about legacy and self-awareness: How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
In commercial photography, the honest answer is that we often are.
Every meaningful assignment stretches you. You’re navigating creative expectations, logistics, personalities, and pressure often all at once. You can’t be too far out of your depth, but growth requires discomfort. If I’m operating entirely within my comfort zone, I’m bored and boredom is a signal that I’m no longer evolving.
Being slightly out of your depth means you’re learning. It means you’re paying attention. Over time, that edge becomes familiar, and you realize it’s where your best work tends to live.
Looking Ahead
After more than three decades behind the camera, what matters most to me now isn’t volume or accolades; it’s purpose. Creating work that feels honest. Giving back where I can. Staying curious. Remaining open.
Those values inform everything I do today, from fine-art pet portrait commissions to ongoing rescue projects, and they continue to shape how I think about legacy, not as something grand, but as the quiet accumulation of meaningful choices.
👉 Read the full interview on Voyage Minnesota
I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my story and thankful for everyone; clients, collaborators, and the rescue community who have been part of this journey. You can also learn more about me here.
