Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Metaxa.
Hi Tanya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a professional certified photographer, a designer, a wife to a talented tattoo artist, and a mom to two beautiful humans and two adorable dogs. Many years ago, I embarked on this exceptional life-long journey that is called the entertainment business with my younger daughter, who was ten years old at that time. Jumping into it with both feet felt equally scary and exciting. We’ve made some mistakes and gained some life-long friends along the way. Navigating these uncharted waters – in NY, no less, I was hungry to learn as much about this industry as I could, until slowly, whos, whats, and hows became easy and familiar. As I was learning, sharing this new knowledge with others became second nature to me.
After years of auditions, bookings, and working with agents and various headshot photographers, it was the move from NY to Austin, TX that made me realize that my passion for keeping up with everything latest and greatest in the business and for helping other actors did not diminish a single bit. And so, Tanya Eivin Photography was born, initially, with the actor’s success in the industry in mind. However, great feedback from agents and casting directors led me to the realization, that when one develops the skill to capture someone’s personality in the most honest and captivating way, they can help more than just the actors! From there, the new demand for corporate headshots started growing rapidly, followed by requests from past and potential clients for unique portrait and boudoir sessions, eventually shaping Tanya Eivin Photography into what it is today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Well, starting a brand business is never easy, is it? Suddenly, you find yourself having so many new responsibilities, from understanding how to file your business taxes to marketing basics and beyond. That is seriously scary at first. Plus, as an artist, you must make sure that you also set aside time for self-education and professional growth so that you are constantly working on improving your level of expertise, and your craft. Sometimes it feels like there are just not enough hours in the day to check off everything on your business to-do list. And don’t let me start on the heavy lifting of social media management :))). So, yes, you wear these 10, or 12, or 15 hats interchangeably all by yourself, and that means one thing: you must be 300% dedicated to what you are trying to build and eventually grow. Because it will only work if you are truly passionate about your business and if you genuinely believe in the value of the product or service your business offers to the client.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My studio, Tanya Eivin Photography, specializes in editorial portraits, headshots, and boudoir. I know what you’re thinking! ‘These genres are so different!’ And you are right. But the truth is, no matter what genre of photography my clients come to me for, they all come for very similar reasons: they are tired of playing it safe, they want to be seen, and they are ready to start playing by their own rules. Yes, they all need different things: a boudoir client wants a beautifully crafted album filled with images that are very personal to them, a headshot client needs a set of brand-new attention-commanding profile images. Through a bespoke experience, we design a session around them so that they can get exactly what they want, how they want it. And that also means that we can easily blur the lines between the genres, all within one session by adding some spicy shots to a branding or headshot session, or some beauty shots to a boudoir photoshoot. And now, all of a sudden, it’s a whole new level of experience! And my clients no longer blend in. Instead, they dare to stand up and take up space, fiercely and unapologetically. Usually, my clients tell me that my sessions aren’t like anything else they have ever experienced. I take it as a huge compliment. Because my sessions truly don’t have a script or a posing guide to be used to pose every single client (those stiff and weird poses that can be found all over the internet).
Instead, we learn how to breathe, and then, I take them on a journey to explore the emotional connection to their own humanity, vulnerability, and strength. Unfailingly, the results are absolutely breathtaking! Theater design studies definitely played a huge role in the way I approach photography. I always think about my client as the star of the show, whereas everything else (backdrops, outfits, props, if any) is just there to help tell their story in the most authentic way. And if they’d rather choose to portray someone else on that stage (aka their photo session), – awesome, no sweat! I have all the tools and the training to help them make it happen. That is why I always prefer the minimalistic style. My best-kept secrets are a strong knowledge of the equipment I work with, and great lighting, that’s it! You really don’t need an elaborate set to turn someone into a star.
Is there anything I am proud of? Of course! I love it when my clients get to see their images for the first time, and these photos make them emotional. All because now they have that unique opportunity to see themselves the way the entire world and their loved one see them but they themselves had no idea how special they are. I am also very proud to be named one of the winners of the recent International Fine Art Photography Awards. That is something I feel very grateful for!
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was always a very bookish child. All I wanted to do when not in school was surround myself with tall towers of books and read! I remember making my mom take me to the school library on the last day of each school year so that I could check out an insane number of books to read over the summer. Technically, I wasn’t even allowed to have that many at once, but the school librarian was always making an exception for me! Needing an outlet for my wild reading-ignited imagination, I also loved setting up a stage for my mini theatrical performances with dressing up, singing, and dancing for my most appreciative crowd: my favorite toys, and my parents. Until the 4th grade, I dreamt about becoming a film actress (not the most original, I know!). Then later, after middle school, I started enjoying writing long essays and film and book reviews, which made me want to pursue journalism. I never did, but instead, eventually ended up in a theater design program in college, going after my other passion – theater. All that pretty much shaped and solidified my love for visual and performing arts, slowly paving the way for pursuing photography which I see as a unique form of visual staging and storytelling.
Contact Info:
- Email: tanya@tanyaeivinphotography.com
- Website: www.tanyaeivinphotography.com
- Instagram: @tanyaeivinphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanyaeivinphotography/
- Other: www.houseofsecretsboudoirphotography.com
Image Credits
Credit for my portrait: Joselyn McMillan
