We recently connected with Tanya Gurule and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanya, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I can remember in my late teens seeing work by Anne Geddes, and being drawn to her newborn photography creations. Thinking how wonderful and very curious how Anne created her art. As I grew up, I was always drawn to newborn photography and the beautiful creations created with the tiniest and purest humans on earth.

It wasn’t until I had my first child that I tried to figure it out. How do I create images like a baby with butterfly wings etc? I bought wire butterfly wings from Walmart and tried to pose my own newborn with them and took pictures with a Kodak cool pix camera. Obviously the pictures weren’t close to a professional lol. A few years later, I took my daughter to a fairytale experience in Denver. I was so intrigued by the studio and how the images were captured. I was also shocked at the price tag attached to my pictures. I remember feeling less than because I could never afford the packages of the studio. I ended up purchasing (charging) 2 8x10s for $500. At that moment, I decided, I never wanted to feel that way again. Everyone deserves beautiful portraits, memories, a moment in time.

I went home and bought (charged) an entry level DSLR. I invested in photography training with Ana Brandt, and watched every you tube video I could find. I also focused on learning GIMP, because at that time I couldn’t afford Photoshop. I practiced and practiced. I started charging $50 a session and hit up all my friends and family. The biggest pull away for me, is I never want to make any momma feel like she is less than, and can’t afford precious memories for their loved ones. I try to keep my prices lower and affordable, but support the overhead of a studio and expenses. To me, it’s more about sharing my love of capturing a memory and building a legacy.

Tanya, 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?

The key aspect I am most proud of is my willingness not to quit. When you are starting out. You question yourself and abilities. But every setback drove me harder at growing my business and skills.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love when I make my clients feel stunning and beautiful. Especially when they are pregnant and not feeling all that desirable. Showing them how they glow and are gorgeous. Capturing a newborn in the first few days before they change too much. Capturing them eating their first cake and expressions to the textures while sticking their toes in the cake. The beauty of life. The capture of a moment, that is what drives me.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Most people who are not photographers do not understand how much training and education professional photographers undergo to deliver quality images. It’s not just click and shoot, crop, and deliver. There are many techniques to editing pictures, according to the artist’s tastes. When pictures are taken, the session might be 30 min but the editing is hours and hours. And NO, we won’t give you raw images. They aren’t the best images created. That would be like asking a chef, can I just have ingredients and I’ll just make it myself. I promise, it won’t be the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ashimmerintimephotography.com
• Instagram: @ashimmerintime
• Facebook: Https://www.facebook.com/tlgurule

Image Credits

Na