Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Theresa Ambat. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Theresa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the most important things we can do as business owners is ensure that our customers feel appreciated. What’s something you’ve done or seen a business owner do to help a customer feel valued?

Excellent customer appreciation starts with recognizing who we are as creatives and artists, and in turn, seeing the inherent value in our customers.

Cal Newport’s book Deep Work introduced me to a transformative idea: fulfillment in work doesn’t come from external benefits like pay or perks, but from the intentionality, depth, focus, and effort we bring to it. For a long time, I thought the former. I believed fulfilling work meant finding gigs that offered the highest pay, the best perks, and the most freedom. However, as I began my freelance career, I quickly realized that this mindset wasn’t viable and often led me to make selfish decisions, produce low-quality work, and feel deeply unsatisfied.

In the past, if a client couldn’t afford my full rate, I would only put in part of the effort. I now look back on that approach with a lot of regret:

“Hmm, the colors in this photo look off, but since they only paid 80% of my rate, I’ll leave it as is.”

“Well, the bridge in this song feels weak, but they didn’t pay for perfection, so I’ll just deliver it like this.”

This mentality turned my art into a money-driven machine, cheapening both my craft and my relationship with clients. Worse yet, these were the least fulfilling projects, because I was focused solely on money, not the art. In doing so, I compromised my identity as a creator.

In Deep Work, Newport refers to Dreyfus and Kelly’s writings on the lost art of craftsmanship: ”’The woodworker has an intimate relationship with the wood he works. Its subtle virtues call out to be cultivated and cared for.’ In this appreciation for the ‘subtle virtues’ of his medium…the craftsman has stumbled onto something crucial in a post-Enlightenment world: a source of meaning sited outside the individual. The wheelwright doesn’t decide arbitrarily which virtues of the wood he works are valuable and which are not; this value is inherent in the wood and the task it’s meant to perform.” This point was clear: We ought to respect the worker (ourselves) and the work’s intrinsic value, not just what we gain from it.

Customer appreciation as a creative, then, isn’t just about checking off a to-do list with quick email responses or holiday sales. It’s about recognizing who we are as creatives and the value we offer, and in turn, seeing that same value in our customers. If I’m calling myself an artist, that means I bring care, thought, and effort into everything I create. I collaborate thoughtfully and approach projects with a unique perspective. Helping a client achieve their vision isn’t just about completing a task—it’s about doing something meaningful, simply because it’s the right thing to do.

Our creative work is valuable because of who we are and because art itself holds inherent worth—not because of the benefits we receive from it. This doesn’t mean we should bend over backward for every difficult client or take on more than we can handle. But it does mean we shouldn’t withhold our best work simply because we aren’t getting exactly what we want. Recently, I worked with a client who could only pay 75% of my rate. Instead of viewing it as “half the pay, half the effort,” I focused on what we could accomplish within their budget and how we could still make the project the best it could be. This shift in mindset made the project more fulfilling and strengthened my relationship with the client, simply because I showed them I truly cared about their vision.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Theresa Ambat, a 26-year-old sound designer, musician, photographer, and creative business owner based in Seattle. I love pursuing a variety of creative passions.

Music has always been my first love. I grew up singing and writing songs, and in high school, I received a USB microphone that sparked my interest in recording and producing my own music. In college, I studied computer music, where I explored the intersection of music and technology, composing experimental pieces using digital signal processing and code. This deepened my passion for electronic music production and eventually led me into sound design. Over the years, I’ve done sound design for radio theater, music production for short films and podcasts, and audio editing for audiobooks and online media.

Photography started as a hobby when I bought a Sony RX100 IV. Its compact size made it easy to take everywhere, allowing me to document my daily life. My interest in photography grew after I brought the camera to a concert and was impressed by its low-light performance. Paired with my love for music, I began capturing my friends’ performances for fun. As my skills and portfolio developed, I expanded to paid concert shoots, studio sessions, engagement shoots, and portrait photography.

My latest creative venture is a small Catholic sticker business on Etsy called “Saint Sprites,” inspired by Blessed Carlo Acutis, a millennial saint known for his love of computer programming, video games, and faith. After learning about him, I started creating pixel art of my favorite saints, discovering a niche community of Catholics who also enjoy gaming. Although the shop is still growing, it has brought in steady monthly sales throughout 2024 and continues to thrive.

At one point, I felt insecure about my varied creative pursuits, thinking they made me seem unfocused. But over time, I’ve come to embrace this part of myself. I’ve always been drawn to exploring new hobbies and artistic forms, and now I see it as one of my greatest strengths. In fact, my diverse skill set has proven incredibly beneficial. My photography skills enhance my branding and marketing efforts, while my experience with music and sound allows me to create engaging content for my business. Additionally, running a product-based business has taught me how to better serve my clients as a sound designer and photographer. Everything is interconnected, and I’ve learned to value the versatility I bring to each creative endeavor.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a creative, it’s to just do it.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

The key to building an audience on social media starts with understanding who you’re marketing to. For my sticker business, I knew my audience would be Catholics who love video games. I identified this niche through conversations with other Catholic friends who, like me, enjoyed gaming.

To build my initial audience, I focused on reels and ad boosting. I created a simple video ad introducing the business, highlighting what we do. Starting the reel with: ‘Are you a Catholic gamer? Wow! So are we!’ helped grab the attention of my target audience. I then boosted this ad on Instagram, which significantly increased my following.

Once you’ve gained followers, engagement is key. Some strategies I’ve found effective include:

– Posting behind-the-scenes content via Instagram stories to share my creative process
– Asking followers questions like what games they play or how they live out their Christian life
– Offering free digital products when they comment specific words (I used Manychat for this)

Ultimately, the most powerful tool for audience building is fostering a sense of community. People don’t just want to be sold something—they want to feel like they’re part of something bigger. By putting a personality behind your brand and showing that you genuinely care about your customers’ needs, you can build a loyal and engaged audience.”

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

I love bringing joy to people’s lives. Whether it’s capturing the beauty and goodness of people and their loved ones through photography, creating products that remind young people they are loved and seen, or writing music that reflects my own story while evoking emotions and memories in others, each of these brings me so much fulfillment as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theresaambat.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theresaambat/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-ambat/
• Other: https://www.saintsprites.com