Episode 154 · September 17, 2024
Mike Tedford: Building a Career in Photography and Vintage Cars later in life
with Mike Tedford, Owner, Mike Tedford Photography & Vintage Car Service
51 min
Mike Tedford: Building a Career in Photography and Vintage Cars later in life
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In this episode
In this episode I sit down with Mike Tedford, owner of Mike Tedford Photography, and I have to tell you — his story is proof that it's never too late to lean into the things you love. Mike spent thirty years in his family's insurance business in Tulsa before retiring in 2017. Photography had been a hobby since high school, and rather than letting it stay a "someday" dream, he enrolled at Oklahoma State University and earned a degree in photography in 2019. I love that he was willing to be a student again later in life.
What happened next is a beautiful example of luck favoring the prepared. Mike bought a 1934 Plymouth simply to use as a prop, and almost by accident discovered an underserved niche — vintage cars for weddings and photo shoots. He now has nine classic cars, and during COVID, when every single booking canceled, he used that quiet season to build his website, write contracts, and create content so he'd be ready when the world opened back up.
We also get really practical about something so many of us struggle with: hating how we look in photos. Mike's take is encouraging — it's not that you don't photograph well, it's that nobody ever showed you how to pose. He shares wonderful, doable tips for headshots, LinkedIn profiles, and even how students on a budget can get great photos. Whether you're thinking about a second career or just trying to show up well online, there's so much here. Keep going — this one will inspire you.
Key takeaways
- It's never too late to pursue your God-given gifts and talents — Mike retired from a 30-year insurance career and went back to school to earn a photography degree at 60-something.
- Luck favors the prepared. Mike used the COVID shutdown — when every booking canceled — to build his website, draft contracts, and create content so he'd be ready when demand returned.
- A simple prop can become a whole business. Buying one vintage car as a photography prop grew into a fleet of nine classic cars serving weddings and shoots.
- Most people don't photograph badly — they were just never shown how to pose. Find your 'pose,' practice it, and notice which side of your face works best.
- Find your authentic smile percentage. If a full smile feels forced, dial it back about 25% to a relaxed, inviting '75% smile.'
- Keep your headshot current — update it every 24 months so people don't experience 'cognitive dissonance' when the real you doesn't match a 15-year-old photo.
- Dress as yourself. Wear what you'd actually wear in front of clients, avoid cluttered backgrounds, don't crop someone out of a photo, and keep the image relevant to your work.
- Students and budget-conscious folks can get great photos by partnering with photography students who need subjects, using YouTube tutorials for iPhone headshots, or platforms like Fiverr.
Chapters
- 00:00Why people think they don't photograph well
- 01:00Welcome and introducing Mike Tedford
- 05:00From ORU and finance to 30 years in the family insurance business
- 10:00Retiring in 2017 and going back to school for photography
- 14:00Launching Mike Tedford Photography — and COVID cancels everything
- 18:00The accidental birth of the vintage car business
- 24:00Photographing for the Cherokee Nation and discovering Oklahoma
- 28:00The range of his work: commercial, film, movie posters and more
- 31:00Headshot tips: posing, your best side, and the '75% smile'
- 36:00Avoiding 'cognitive dissonance' and keeping photos current
- 41:00Budget-friendly headshot advice for students
- 46:00Advice to his younger self and reflections on his path
- 50:00Growing in 2024: creating urgency and learning through audiobooks
- 54:00Creating a great experience for every client
“It's because nobody showed you how to pose.”
“Luck favors the prepared.”
“I originally didn't want to make it a career because I was afraid it would ruin it... Not true at all. I thoroughly love doing it.”
“I always like it when I finish a photo session and somebody says, well, that wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be.”
About Mike
Owner, Mike Tedford Photography & Vintage Car Service
Mike Tedford grew up in Tulsa, graduated from Jenks High School, and earned a finance degree from ORU before spending 30 years in his family's insurance business. After retiring in 2017, he returned to school and earned a photography degree from Oklahoma State University in 2019. He now runs Mike Tedford Photography — specializing in portrait, commercial, event, and film work — and operates a vintage car service featuring classic automobiles from the 1930s to the 1960s for weddings and photo shoots.
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