By Donna Barr

Forks has a new business in town, a full-time professional photography studio.

Jeff Ferguson, active in Spokane since July 2008, opened the Forks studio of J. Ferguson Photos on April 29.

Asked why he decided to open a business in Forks, Ferguson said, “I had been looking at smaller communities in Eastern Washington, but when my significant other applied and was hired to teach at the Quileute Tribal School, I really liked the idea of Forks.”

Ferguson added, “Forks offers many beautiful locations to shoot and the opportunity to live and work between the ocean and the rain forest with the mountains not far is like a dream come true for both of us.

In addition, I am a Spokane tribal member and the peninsula offers the opportunity to work with various different tribes on projects that entail still and video imagery and raise awareness to tribal issues or provide cultural preservation.”

Ferguson has an A.A.S. degree in photography from Spokane Falls Community College and a B.A. in Communications from Whitworth University. He has experience in radio, television and newsprint photography and portraiture.

He shot NCAA Division Three sports for two years and continues to shoot sports events throughout the Northwest. He also owned and operated a retro and antique furniture store for several years.

The studio offers the West End community quality portraiture with packages to fit every budget.

He said, “I also offer sports and event photography. While in Spokane I served on the Spokane Arts Commission for three years and I hope to be able to contribute to the growth of arts and culture in and around the Forks area.”

Ferguson plans to offer senior portrait sessions that pay the student’s high school $100 for every senior portrait session he shoots.

He said, “Kinda my way of giving back to the community and bringing in new business. I also plan to be active with the chamber of commerce.”

Asked if he’s had any fun or strange experiences since opening his business, Ferguson said, “Not much in Forks since it’s only been a few days but I once shot a portrait of a convicted axe murderer after he was convicted but while he was out on the streets playing his guitar a year before he escaped from a prisoner field to the interstate fair. That was strange.”

Ferguson used his photographic opportunity to assist law enforcement, coincidentally following recent public suggestions by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Block Watch program.

“I was headed back to my car after shooting an event and saw him walking down the street with his guitar. I stopped him and asked if I could take his portrait.

A year later I was watching the news and saw he had escaped. I was on the horn to the paper before the broadcast was over.”

J. Ferguson Photos, at 120 S. Forks Ave., may be contacted at the studio at 360-327-3682 or by cell phone at 509-218-1929. E-mail Ferguson at jfergusonphotos@yahoo.com.