Professional Photographer Photographed a Portrait Each Day for a Month
On a frigid, snowy Friday in January 2014, during one of the coldest winters in recent history, a random thought came to professional photographer Todd Joyce: photograph a portrait a day for 30 days — no matter what.
The results of that intensive and risky endeavor can be seen when Wilmington College’s Harcum Art Gallery hosts its first exhibit of the 2015-16 series Sept. 3 through Oct. 10.
An opening reception honoring the artist will be held Sept. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. Normal gallery hours are weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by special arrangement by gallery curator Hal Shunk, professor of art.
Joyce, a 1985 WC graduate, is a commercial photographer specializing in photographing people for advertising and editorial ventures. He recalls that wintry day when he started the “30-Day Portrait Project.”
“Finding people to pose for the project became almost a full-time job,” he said. “Some days, I would wake, not knowing who I would photograph that day.”
Asking friends, family, neighbors, mentors, even complete strangers, he photographed 53 persons in 30 days, working among existing jobs and projects, snow and frigid temperatures. Some were simple portraits and others more elaborate productions.
To stay true to his promise of photographing everyday, he even resorted to a taking a self-portrait when he had a last-minute cancellation.
Joyce’s clients have included Procter & Gamble, 5/3 Bank, Pfizer, Kodak, Canon, Johnson & Johnson, hospitals, magazines and numerous large and mid-size companies. His work has been displayed from the New York’s Nikon Gallery to Xinhua’s gallery in China.
He has served as the American Society of Media Photographers’ national president and as a member of its board of directors, in addition to teaching photography in China and giving more than 50 educational programs for American photographers. His work can be viewed at joycephotography.com.
Joyce and his wife reside with their three dogs on four acres of land outside Lebanon.