Today we’d like to introduce you to Tahj Beatty.
Hi Tahj, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
At a young age, I always loved the media, film, video industry and knew that was something that I wanted to do when I grew up. The movie introducing me to camerawork and directing being “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” I watched with my dad when I was nine years old and I knew that I wanted to capture and edit. I was also inspired by many Youtubers as that was what I watched often. Viewing their videos made me aspire to be like them. I would create many videos, edit them and upload them to Youtube hoping to get as many views as they did. Although It didn’t work out as I thought it would, It was still an enjoyable experience. My love for photography didn’t grow until a little later. I used to always capture photos of my mother after church as a child and that slowly grew my love for photography. I would take pictures of many of my family members, although it wasn’t anything professional at the time. They were taken on an Iphone, but each time I did, I would think about how nice it would be to have an actual camera and capture moments and experiences of the people around me. My sister gifted me her old Nikon Coolpix that she hardly used, and I began to start taking it with me wherever I went to capture moments that I would experience with my friends. It was a very casual camera, but It got the job done. My partner noticed how interested I was in photography and gifted me a Canon Eos Rebel T7 which is the camera that truly started my photography journey. It was a major improvement from the Nikon and had the feature of swapping lens. Since, I have taken hundreds of thousands of photos in the past year since receiving the camera. Some for fun and some for clients, however I always remember to capture the moments and not just the photo. Although photography isn’t my first passion, it is still something that I enjoy.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of my favorite quotes says “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is courage to continue that counts” -Winston Churchill. This resonated deeply within me as life is full of challenges, and this journey has tested my confidence and desires. Starting with little experience but a vision far greater than just a “goal,” this journey has never been easy. I always knew my purpose wasn’t to just take photos, but to capture moments that pause time forever. Even without guidance, I promised myself to never let the obstacles stop me. My quote always reminded me to keep going as long as I am able to. Now that being said. The path is never easy. There have been moments of doubt, and many moments where I kept pushing forward even without seeing results. Building a community of support in a field where people expect skill and talent from the very beginning has been difficult. but through those challenges I learned the importance of resilience. Every brick wall that was placed on my path pushed me to work harder and to believe that the results I was expecting weren’t the skills but rather an understanding of myself. I learned that every successful person once stood where I am, scared, inexperienced but a courage to take any risk. I am motivated by the understanding that just one baby step is progress and no matter how hard it get I will continue growing, and proving myself that this is the start of a larger vision.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I capture photos of people. Regardless of if it’s portrait, sports, or even headshots, but I want to mainly focus on portrait photography as that is what I love most. I love to capture Individuals, and couples. My goal while capturing photos is to make every Individual feel as relaxed and at ease as possible so I can capture the authentic moment. I prefer to take portraits in natural-areas, I believe those make the individual feel more comfortable and allows for more genuine expressions, natural movement, and a deeper connection between the subject and their environment, resulting in photos that truly reflect who they are.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
A lesson that I’ve learned is that photography is a very competitive field, with so many people aspiring to become professionals and constantly showcasing their work. It’s not enough to just be good at taking photos. You have to find a way to truly stand out. One of the most important ways to do that is by developing your own unique style and vibe, something that sets your work apart and makes it instantly recognizable. Your perspective, your editing choices, and the way you interact with your subjects all help to what makes you stand out.
Apart from just the photos themselves, the experience you create for your clients matters just as much. I believe it’s important to make every client feel like they’re welcomed, comfortable, and genuinely cared for throughout the entire process. From the first conversation to the final delivery of images, every interaction should feel personal and meaningful. When clients feel at ease, it naturally shows in the photos, creating more authentic and emotional moments.
Photography isn’t just about capturing images, it’s about creating memories and experiences that people will love. My goal is to make every session something clients can look back on with bliss, knowing they were not only seen through the lens but also truly appreciated.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tahjbeattyphotography.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tahjinfocus/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahj-beatty-19b647264
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahj-beatty-19b647264
Image Credits
TahjInFocus
