We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Teri-Ann Carty a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Teri-Ann, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s talk about social media – do you manage your own or do you have someone or a company that handles it for you? Why did you make the choice you did?

My social media presence has grown to over 50k followers. I am proud of the work it’s taken me to get there but one thing that has shifted for me is feeling the need to do it all myself. I still run my instagram account because that’s my baby but I also recognize my limits. I am in no way a savvy person when it comes to websites or Pinterest so for those niche parts of my business i HIRE OUT. Listen I respect those who have the knowledge, time and talent to build their own sites and how to do all of the things but I just don’t. I love being a creative and hiring professionals to do the work I have no desire to do has given me the gift of time to do what I am good at which is create recipes.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have been a yoga teacher since 2015 and a food photographer /recipe developer for the past 4 years. I was in the restaurant industry working in the front of house for 20 years and felt the need to change it up. I had an awakening in 2012 when I got sober which led me to making huge changes personally and professionally.

Pre covid I was teaching 15-20 classes a week with a part time food blog shooting recipes for a few clients but then covid came along and decimated my yoga work but increased my photography and blogging work. I help my clients by providing them with gorgeous images/ videos and recipes showcasing their products. My images land on brands social accounts, marketing material and websites. I still teach and last year started a yoga retreat business which helps so many people find their way back to their bodies and to themselves.

I am so proud of how far I have come from the darkness of where I was before getting sober. I am living proof that if you can dream it, you can do it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I was a raging alcoholic for the better part of 15 years. i would black out daily and injure myself often. I still marvel at how resilient my body and mind are after putting it through such torture. I made a decision January 2nd 2012 that I was done with booze, drugs and cigarettes. I put myself into a detox centre for 4 days to dry out and from that point on I have been free. It took a great deal of work to get me where I am today. I spent years in AA, doing the things I was told to do to keep me on the right track.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I think we can ALL AGREE that the word pivot was never used more until Covid-19. After the virus shut down all the yoga studios I was forced to pivot and to be honest, it was the best decision I ever made. I really leaned into developing recipes for brands and my business took off. The pivot paid off. I feel like because of all the ups and downs I have experienced (more downs really but I am in the process of changing that!!!) I will always be prepared to shift when I feel called.   

Contact Info:

• Website: www.terianncarty.com
• Instagram: terianncarty
• Facebook: terianncarty
• Linkedin: terianncarty
• Twitter: terianncarty

Image Credits
All shots are mine with the exception of me in the Hat. Hannah Brown took that pic of me.