Tamara Lackey is an award winning photographer whose images are expressive, authentic and moving. I just got to know Tamara recently and am sure you’ll find her as fascinating as I have. Check out this brief Q and A with Tamara. And if you haven’t already, you can still check out Tamara’s fantastic DVD product at Photography Business Institute. It’s only available until 11:59 pm on 1/1/10 so be sure to check it out!
Q: What do you wish you would’ve known when you started your photography business?
A: So many things. But, primarily, I wish I had laid out clear processes for how I would conduct my workflow in terms of the overall business process flow. I would’ve saved some time on working so hard and would’ve been working smarter right out of the gate.
Q: What is one interesting fact that people don’t know about you?
A: I’m 100% Ukranian and a first-generation American, although I didn’t move to the U.S. until I was eleven years old. From Germany.
Q: What is the best advice you have ever been given regarding your business and by whom?
A: “If you wait to do everything until you’re sure it’s right, you’ll probably never do much of anything” – Win Borden. It’s not difficult to work at something again and again and again until it’s just perfect. It’s not hard to hold off on doing this or that until you’re completely ready. It’s also not hard to keep waiting until it’s the right time to start living. I’m not saying we should abandon thoroughness and attention to detail, just that we shouldn’t be afraid to take that next step just because we’re not completely ready, as that seems to be a recipe for missed opportunity.
Q: If you weren’t a photographer, what would you do for a living?
A: I’d probably be a writer. Or a teacher … pretty appreciative that I get to do all of that now, though.
Q: Who are some of your mentors?
A: For how imagery can make you feel – Sandro Botticelli, for how marketing works – Malcolm Gladwell, for smart business workflow – all of my teachers at Accenture and for why passion and connection matters – Hafiz.
The Joy to the World FREE Websummit has ended, but you can still grab all 14 hours of the recording, plus action steps from many of our speakers and transcripts of the event for $124 here! Photography Business Institute. And we’re inching closer to our goal of 100 smiles for PPA Charities. We’re halfway there. Learn more about how you can make the difference for a child in need at www.thejoyofmarketing.com/100smiles.