HTC Alumni Success Story
A lot to smile about
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When Joe McDonald thinks about Hennepin Technical College, he thinks about the friends he made as a student there, as well as the skills that have helped him establish himself as a successful photographer. “The camera has gotten me into a lot of places,” says McDonald, “from photographing rock bands to movie stars to presidents and politicians.” Most recently, he photographed John McCain at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. |
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It all started with his dream of becoming a photojournalist. However, he found that he liked photography much better than writing, so he realized that he wanted to use his camera to concentrate on capturing images. When a friend suggested he try HTC’s Photography program, he says, “I checked it out, I liked it and I enrolled at the Eden Prairie campus.”
In those days, says the Watertown, Minnesota, native, “I thought I would travel the world and work for National Geographic or the Associated Press.” Instead, he has found a world of opportunity in Minnesota as a photographer, businessman and since 2006, as mayor of Delano. His HTC training gave him a strong foundation.
“It was hands-on experience where you jump right in,” says McDonald of his HTC training. “It was fantastic.” He appreciated the fact that the instructors all had professional experience and weren’t just relying on textbooks for information. Plus, he says, “You came out of school with a good portfolio and it was something to build on.”
After graduating from HTC in 1986, McDonald went to work in Minneapolis as an assistant for photographer Allen Beaulieu, who created images for music star Prince and other celebrities. Then in 1988, McDonald joined forces with a fellow HTC graduate, Brian Amundson, to establish Amundson and McDonald Photography in Delano. The McDonald name brought some recognition because Joe’s father, K.J. McDonald, was a professional photographer in Watertown, as well as a former state legislator. The duo photographed weddings and families, gaining a reputation for good work. Still, McDonald thought it would be just a stepping stone to traveling the world. As the business grew, however, he eventually decided that staying in Delano was the right thing to do. He established McDonald Studios at its present location in Delano in 1994. He has traveled extensively for photography jobs, but home base has always been in Minnesota.
In the 20 years since launching his career, McDonald has seen plenty of changes in the photography world, the biggest being technology-driven as photography went digital. A believer in lifelong learning, he has completed classes, programs and testing in order to earn certification as a Master Photographer from the Professional Photographers of America. He has also been active in the Minnesota Professional Photographers Association. “Those organizations are great for students to get involved with as they launch their careers,” McDonald says. In addition to photographing weddings, families and special events, McDonald has also done commercial photography for companies such as Cargill, McDonald’s, Hasbro and ESPN.
To someone considering a career in photography, McDonald advises, “If you’re determined, you persevere and you treat clients well, you can succeed. It takes a while to build a reputation and establish your worth, but it’s a great career.” After two decades, photography is still something that gives Joe McDonald a reason to smile.
To learn more, visit:
www.mcdonaldsstudio.com
Contact HTC at 952-995-1300 or info@hennepintech.edu
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