Freelance Photography for The New York Times: Behind the Scenes at Butterball’s Turkey Processing Plant

As a freelance photographer, I’ve had the privilege of working on a variety of assignments, but one of the most memorable was a recent project for The New York Times. I spent a couple of days in Ozark, Arkansas, working alongside a reporter on a feature story about turkeys for the Thanksgiving Day edition. Our journey took us to the Butterball, LLC. processing plant, where we observed the fascinating process of turkeys being sorted, stuffed, bagged, and packaged for shipment.

The entire experience was eye-opening, but what truly stood out was the natural light inside both the processing plant and a turkey house we visited in Scranton, Arkansas. The lighting created a beautiful atmosphere, which was something I didn’t expect in a setting like this. When I mentioned to the farmer that he probably never heard anyone describe a turkey house as beautiful, he laughed, but I couldn’t help but appreciate how the light and the massive amount of turkeys made for some stunning photos.

As a journalist and photographer, it was refreshing to return to my roots, even if only for a couple of days. The assignment allowed me to walk around, observe, and create without the pressure of posing or setting up shots. The candid, unposed moments often tell the most powerful stories, and I walked away from the shoot feeling confident that the mood and authenticity of the images truly captured the essence of the story.

Working on assignments like this is a reminder of why I love being a freelance photographer—capturing real moments in real environments. It was a joy to bring this story to life through my lens, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a prestigious publication like The New York Times.