Today, we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Wideman.
Hi Tanya, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My husband purchased me a camera for my 30th birthday. That was almost 8 years ago. I started out taking pictures for fun, but I soon realized that this was more than a hobby for me – it was turning into a passion. I would only book sessions for my family and friends until I started getting clients from all over to reach out to me about shooting them. The demand was clearly there, so I eventually transitioned to doing photography full-time in 2020.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road. There have been many struggles along the way. One of the biggest struggles I have faced over the years is “imposter syndrome,” which is the condition of feeling anxious and not experiencing success internally despite being high-performing in external, objective ways.
I felt that I wasn’t good enough at times, although my work was getting rewarded and appreciated. Thankfully, God helped me through that season of insecurity by showing me who I was in Him. My worth didn’t come from my work; it came from Him.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a full-time photographer who specializes in branding photography. I love helping clients tell their brand stories through creative, fresh, modern images. The way I see it, people have so many talents to offer this world, and I’m here to showcase the value they offer across their website, social media platforms, advertisements, and more.
I understand it can be hard to trust a stranger with such a personal aspect of their business. That’s why I also collaborate every step of the way to make sure we discuss props, incorporate color schemes, and plan a wardrobe for them so that they feel authentically and wholly represented.
I’m there to be their guide and help them achieve their business goals. I don’t just show up with my fancy camera to take “pretty” pictures. Together, we create a plan of action to create images showing who they are and what they do best.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Trust the process. Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s easy to think that success will come overnight because that’s the world we live in today. From fast food to high-speed internet, everything is delivered to us quickly, so we sometimes believe that business success will be the same.
But that’s not the reality of life. There is a process we all must go through before we reach the top. You will never appreciate success until you’ve gone through failure. Trust the process and let success come when it’s your time.
Contact Info:
- Website: tanyawidemanphotography.com
- Instagram: @tanyawidemanphotography
- Facebook: Tanya Wideman Photography
