Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Tyson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Stephanie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?
I do! Granted it’s usually only one or a two a year, but I do take them. I think it’s absolutely necessary for anyone, regardless if they own a business or work for someone, to take at least one vacation a year. Burnout is so hard to avoid when you’re doing all aspects of a business, and it can get exhausting. Taking that vacation to do NOTHING is key to not hitting burnout so fast. Missing that one week will not kill a business. Pick a slow time in the year and take it. Come back refreshed.
Stephanie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hi there! I’m Lost Stars Imaging. I have offered a wide variety of photography services to the Denver Metro Area since 2019. Cosplay has become my speciality, and I’ve been published twice in 2023 for my cosplay photography. I’ve been the official cosplay red carpet photographer for FanExpo Denver since 2021. I also love sports photography! I typically hit the local circuit and follow the Colorado Pro Rodeo Association. This summer I started doing volleyball photography and fell in love with it. I can’t wait to see where it goes.
I just launched a new Instagram page for my commercial work under @constellation_imaging. This is where people looking for headshots, branding, product, or job site photos can see all of my work. I really enjoy this type of work as well as it stretches my creative mind in a different way than cosplay or sports.
One of the things I pride myself on is that I make people feel comfortable and have fun. I think being relaxed and having fun yields the best photos. I shoot a lot of cosplay conventions so they’re very quick sessions, and getting people to relax is key to getting those awesome photos in a short period of time. Minus headshots, people booking me really do just want to have fun and capture their hard work. I don’t ever want people to feel like being in front of the camera is awful.
Honestly, I think in my journey as Lost Stars Imaging, the thing I’m most proud of is the fact that I’m still around as a business. Photography had always been a hobby and passion of mine, and a few close friends urged me to pursue it more professionally. I never really did since it wasn’t the most profitable avenue (starving artists am I right?), but it just kept growing. When I first heard from FanExpo Denver, I thought I was being pranked, but it was real. Then I got repeat customers, and people started to recognize my name. Then I got consistent commercial jobs that kept me busy in the off season. Then I got published! Not just once, but twice! I am just blown away honestly. I love being able to look at each year and see that I’ve grown more and more successful. It’s so humbling and so cool.
To anyone reading this, I want you to know that I am forever thankful for your support. For new clients, I am here to hype you up and look your best. Photoshoots don’t have to be painful or awkward. We can have fun and get some magic.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I’ve pivoted a couple of times. Both times between working for a fence company and pursuing photography more full time. It really came down to my happiness and mental health. As much as I loved the work I did for the fence companies, the culture just wasn’t conducive to my happiness. After FanExpo 2022, I realized that I just wasn’t happy working full time in construction anymore. I had the quarter life crisis of realizing that all of my “adult goals” and the timeline I wanted them in were quickly approaching. So I quit. I work at a liquor store to sustain what photography doesn’t cover, but other than that, photography is my full time focus. I’m so much happier doing what I love and following my passion.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
So far, Instagram or Facebook groups have been the best source of new clients. Maybe I just don’t know how to cater the ads, but I’ve never really had much success with them. Slowly but surely, I’m starting to get clients from searching for photographers on Google, which is really cool!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.loststarsimaging.com
- Instagram: @loststarsimaging
- Facebook: @loststarsimaging