An Inspired Chat with Tony McCoy of Buckhead

We recently had the chance to connect with Tony McCoy and have shared our conversation below.

Tony, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
A lot of people have the wrong idea about photography. They think it’s just me pointing a fancy camera, pressing a button, and—voilà—instant masterpiece. We all wish! What they don’t see is the mountain of practice, learning, and behind-the-scenes work that goes into actually making photography a business.
On top of capturing great shots, I’m also my own sales team, marketing department, accountant, and part-time email warrior. Honestly, the actual picture-taking is the smallest slice of the pie. For every one hour I spend shooting, I spend about three hours editing…and another three hours doing everything else it takes to keep the business running. So yeah—photography isn’t just about pressing a button. If it were, I’d have way more free time and probably less caffeine in my system.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey, I’m Tony McCoy—the guy behind TKMcCoy Photography. I’m an Atlanta-based lifestyle and fashion photographer, but really, I just love creating images that make people stop scrolling for more than two seconds (no easy task these days).
I picked up my first camera back in the day and pretty much knew I was hooked. By 2012, I’d turned that obsession into TKMcCoy Photography—starting with friends and family who were nice enough to let me practice on them before I graduated to shooting events, commercial projects, and more.
For me, photography isn’t just about pointing a camera and yelling “say cheese.” It’s about finding the story, the vibe, and the emotion behind each shoot—and then bringing it all to life in a way that feels real.
Right now, I’m revamping my portfolio with fresh fashion branding and editorial work. The goal? Lean even more into brand photography while keeping fashion at the center—because let’s be honest, nothing beats killer fashion and a great shot.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that once put work and chasing success above everything else has served its purpose—and now, it’s time to let that version go. I’m still ambitious, still hungry, and still pursuing my dreams, but I’ve come to understand that the grind alone isn’t the whole story.
Life requires balance. Time with family and friends, travel, exploration, rest, and simple moments of stillness are just as important as the work itself. These are the things that reset us, that refill the creative tank, and remind us why we’re striving in the first place.
Because when all of your energy goes into one pursuit, it’s easy to lose yourself in it—and one day look up and wonder where the time went. And while success is worth pursuing, it’s not worth realizing your laptop has been your most loyal companion.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could tell my younger self just one kind thing, it would be this: keep pushing, and never stop believing in yourself. You’re so much better than you realize.
The setbacks you’re facing? They’re not failures—they’re lessons. Each one is shaping you, strengthening you, and preparing you for the next level of your life. What feels like a roadblock today is really just part of the training for tomorrow.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Money, power, and success don’t automatically equal intelligence. Just because someone has status or material things doesn’t mean they’re the go-to source for wisdom. We’ve got to stop assuming that what a person has automatically makes them qualified to tell us how to live or what choices to make. Sometimes the loudest “experts” are just people with good luck, good timing, or a really good publicist.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Being acknowledged for what we do always feels good—especially when we’ve poured our heart into it. But for me, recognition has never been the reason I give my best. My effort comes from wanting to grow, improve, and create something better each time. The recognition? That’s just the icing on the cake… sweet to have, but not the reason the cake was baked in the first place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tkm-photos.kavyar.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tkm_photos/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tkmccoyphotography/

Image Credits
Sasha Gomez
Danajah Nikhole
Zari Edwards
Camille