We recently connected with Tahira N Roman and have shared our conversation below.

Tahira N, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

To be successful, I believe it requires a combination of hard work, dedication, and adaptability. Personally, I have experienced numerous challenges and obstacles along the way, but they have ultimately shaped my perspective and taught me valuable lessons. Time is one example. I sometimes wish I could obtain more clients and spend more time creating content for my social platforms to build a stronger online presence, but I am limited in my time due to the business days that I’ve selected to do photography and the amount of clients I can handle. However, I am grateful for the opportunities I have and excited for the future. I am confident that with the skills I continue to develop and the determination I have, I will be able to thrive and make progress in my business. I couldn’t be happier with the path I have chosen and the journey I am on.

Tahira N, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Tahira. I was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Tampa in 2022. My first language is Spanish, and my second language is English. I love dogs, traveling and trying food from different cultures. I also love photography because it allows me to capture and keep special moments in time and to remember and share these experiences with others.

When I was eight years old, I became passionate about photography. As a child, I would go through my mother’s family album and spend hours looking at old photos. Having those memories in my hands felt like magic! As I grew up, that magic turned into curiosity, then into a hobby, and now into a part-time business.

Photographing weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, and other events is part of what I do as a photographer. I love capturing people’s joy and love on their special day, their excitement as they celebrate another year of life, or their anticipation of becoming parents. The overall feeling of being able to capture these important moments and their unique emotions is what makes what I do so rewarding.

Furthermore, this year I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new. I created a special Christmas mini session in celebration of the holiday season. These sessions included festive props and backgrounds. It was a great honor to provide families with cherishable memories as well as to showcase my talents in creating holiday-themed photographs.

Some of the things I like to think set me apart from other photographers are my social skills and the fact that I am bilingual. My social skills allow me to establish connections with my clients on a deeper level, making me feel more like part of their special day rather than just a photographer. This makes it easier to capture genuine emotions and authentic moments, resulting in a more heartfelt and memorable photography experience. Additionally, being bilingual allows me to effectively communicate and empathize with clients from different cultural backgrounds, ensuring that I understand their specific needs and preferences.

In conclusion, I am proud of my ability to capture the genuine emotions on photography because it requires a combination of skill, intuition, and empathy. Creating a photograph involves understanding lighting, composition, and technical aspects, but it also requires reading the subject’s emotions and capturing them at the perfect time. Being able to capture and preserve a moment in this way is an honor. As I continue to grow as a photographer, I look forward to pushing boundaries, exploring new genres, and capturing beautiful memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I started Tahira Nicole Photography LLC with personal savings. Using personal savings to fund my business allowed me to have immediate access to the capital I needed to get started. It allowed me to invest in equipment, marketing, and other necessary expenses without having to rely on external funding sources or loans. This provided me with flexibility and control over my business’s financial decisions and allowed me to make informed decisions based on my own timeline and priorities.

Analyzing the competition and conducting market research helped me determine how much capital I needed for my business. I also took into account the initial investment required for equipment, marketing, and initial operating expenses. Additionally, I consulted with financial advisors and experts to ensure that I had an accurate assessment of the capital needed to establish the business and start running it successfully.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think several factors have contributed to building my reputation within my market. Firstly, I have always prioritized delivering high-quality products and services to my customers. Additionally, staying connected with my customers through social media has allowed me to engage on a personal level and share behind-the-scenes content, helping me earn their trust.

In fact, when it comes to strengthening and building trust, I am currently focusing on: creating a brand and style guide that reflects my personality, establishing an online presence, asking for and responding to reviews, listening to feedback, and improving customer service.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tahiranicolephotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tahiranicolephotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TahiraNicolePhotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahira-rom%C3%A1n-396699135/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tahiranicolephotography

Image Credits
B&W Picture, taken when worked as a second shooter for Cristina Hernandez.