Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Chapman.
Hi Tiffany, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up always loving photography. My grandfather was an avid picture-taker, many of my extended family were working artists, and I just had an instinct in me to always create. In high school, my dad gifted me an old Pentax film camera. I didn’t know much about how to use it, so I just started experimenting, taking photos of my cat, my house and anything that interested me. Art was my favorite subject in school of course, and my high school offered a photography class. Through that class I fell in love with the darkroom processes and film. In college it took me a few years to decide my major but it was one academic advisor who asked me, “What do you love to do?” and I said Art. Then after talking about the kinds of art majors that were offered, I said I’d like to do Photography. She walked me over to the photography classrooms, introduced me to the professor and took care of the rest. Through those college years I fell deeper in love with the fine art of photography and knew I was in my element. I like to say that I started my business in my college dorm room! I booked a wedding for a friend of a friend with only my classwork to show as my portfolio. I shot the whole thing in film and developed all the black and white myself and hand made darkroom prints for them. That gave me a thrill and hope that maybe someday I can do more of it. I started to second shoot for other photographers, gaining experience and knowledge about the industry while developing my own artistic perspective and vision for the future.
After college I had a variety of full time jobs while continuing to do photography on the side. I started following local and professional photographers that I looked up to like Jeremy Cowart, and Jasmine Star. I started attending workshops and conferences to immerse myself in the networking and education. I was doing so much photography side work that it rivaled my full time jobs, so I officially established my business in 2011. I continued to learn how to build my business and other skills such as graphic design and marketing, and establish my work in my community. A few years into starting my family in 2015, I decided to take the plunge and dive into my business full time. It has been difficult, yet thrilling to be able to run my own business and I can’t imagine doing anything else! This passion has led me to many amazing places, and created many meaningful relationships that I hold dear. It has also been a catalyst for serving my local community with my skills and I think I love that most of all!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No career path is a smooth road! Particularly for an artist, people often view artists as people who are too lazy to do any real work. That is far from true. Loving art is not the same as loving the process, or loving the results. It was grueling work to discover who I am and who I wanted to be as an artist, and to this day it continues to evolve. I knew I loved photography but I had no idea how to create a business. They don’t teach you that as an art major in college! It took a lot of time and effort to seek the knowledge I needed to start, run, and market my business. In addition to the technical side of operating a camera and booking photoshoots, there’s always the secret voice inside every artist; Am I good enough? Is my work good enough? Is my work worth it? Will they see my intention? It can be very difficult to express myself as an artist and at the same time please clients and give them what they come to expect of you.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I learned photography very traditionally in school from my teachers and art professors, using only film cameras, and the hand craft of developing film and making prints in the darkroom. Once the digital age came into play, I embraced digital photography and the art of editing in Photoshop. My artistic style was very much shaped by my early work, focusing on the fine art aspect of photography. It continues to evolve as I look for slower, more emotional moments that occur in a picture. As I started my business, I learned how to focus on relationships with clients and I believe that, in addition to my skill, has brought me the most success. I am most well known for my family photography, in the way I can make a seemingly chaotic scene look natural and beautiful. I easily relate to the child with a short attention span, or the spouse who doesn’t want to be in the photo. I feel like I work well with all kinds of different people to gain their trust, and put them at ease. I do minimal editing on my digital images to leave the authenticity of natural light and textures to shine through, and I believe that is the quality my clients seek.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to seek to understand the client’s needs first, then use my eye and skill to create their vision. In doing that, I can create art for the client, and for myself at the same time. Being more aware of my surroundings and of others allows me to do my best work, and I need to continue to remember that! I also have learned that not everyone appreciates the kind of work I do, just like not everyone appreciates the work of a VanGough. I’m ok with that now.
Pricing:
- Mini sessions $295
- Full Sessions/Portraits $550-$800
- Weddings $1800-$4000+
- Commercial Shoots $500-$5,000+
- Studio Sessions $500+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiffanychapmanphoto.com
- Instagram: @tiffanychapmanphotographyatx & @raw_studioproject
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/tiffanychapmanphoto
- Other: email: tiffany@tiffanychapmanphoto.com
Image Credits
The portraits of myself are credit to: Julie Wilhite Photography
