Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tierrah (b.k.a Teah) Ojeda. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tierrah (B.K.A Teah), thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.
Yes! ScenebyTeah Photography donates a percentage of our sales to the local church. As of right now, donations are going to the Faith City Church however, it is our hope that as we continue to grow, we can expand our giving to other local ministries and community organizations.
I initially chose to give a potion of the proceeds to the church because it’s my way of saying thank you to the God who has so graciously allowed me to live out my dream and experience the success that I have had in this business. If it were not for God making a way for me to start ScenebyTeah Photography, I wouldn’t have the means to share my art with the world or pour back into my own household financially so in a nutshell, I give to God and his purposes in our community because he first gave to me.
Additionally, I would like to add that giving to local churches helps families in the community more than people realize. A good local church, like the Faith City Church, has benevolence funds for families who are going through hard times, marriage ministries, ministers who are on call for emergencies, children’s ministries that are reaching record numbers of kids and so much more. It takes money to move the needle and touch lives in ministry. I’m not always able to be out in the trenches doing all that work but I know that giving financially puts money in the hands of those whose reach will go the distance.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Tierrah but most know me by my short name, Teah! I am a creative soul by nature, having a hand or two in all sorts of crafts but my deepest love is for the art of photography.
I first got into photography as a Senior in high school because I needed another “art” class for my early college schedule. I chose to take Photography 101 at the local community college and the rest is all she wrote! What started as me picking up a film camera and developing film in a dark room for hours on end turned into a burning passion and outlet that I became obsessed with.
I started off with street photography because I wasn’t always in a position where people were readily available and this is where I believe I developed my artistic edge. As the years went on, I progressed into portraiture, doing things like engagement photos and senior pictures for close friends and family. Today, though I still do family photos, I have settled into the niches of Branding and Event Photography.
I love the rush and creative energy that I experience when photographing an event. In my portfolio, I have had the amazing opportunity to have covered large festivals, fundraising gala’s, seminars, forums, ribbon cutting ceremonies and so much more. The candid moments that I get to capture through my lens and freeze time for is priceless. Moments that would otherwise disappear are encapsulated memories that anyone can experience time and time again.
Branding photography allows me to exercise my creativity in a different way because it allows me to hear the vision of a client and run with it as I help them to formulate the very image that they will share with their clients and everyone they are connected to. I love being able to help shape the imagery that ultimately helps creatives and entrepreneurs establish their brand identities as well as their industry authority.
At this point in my business and career, I am most proud of the growth that I have had both personally and professionally. I am proud that I took the leap of faith to pursue my dream because it is this dream that has allowed me to do what I love and be present for my family. Professionally, I have grown tremendously in my ability to network and put myself out there, confidently. When my clients work with me, they don’t just get a photographer; they get a personal hype woman who extends the quality and excellence that we all deserve.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
For many years, even though photography was my passion, it was a side hustle and at some points, it was something that I had to put on a shelf. Particularly, during my college years and the first few years of my marriage, I didn’t have much time for photography at all.
Last year, the opportunity for me to leave my corporate role to pursue photography full time came up and though it wasn’t perfect timing, I ran with it. I had enough money saved to maintain my home and invest in my business and so, with my husband’s full support and blessing, I did just that!
A major lesson from that season of my business for those who are getting started is to get ready to network and put yourself out there more than you have ever done in your life. Part of the success that I have seen has not been so much from the marketing as it has been from my networking and word of mouth from previous clients. Surely, it is super uncomfortable and you may need to take a few breaks from all the socialization but, I promise, it’s all going to be worth it! I have seen the fruits of my labor when it comes to this.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson that I have had to unlearn is the lie that you can’t be a mom, wife, and a successful business woman.
Before I started my business, I worked in HR and I was always being told by my superior that I could not be successful in my career and be a present wife and mother. This projection from my insecure, gatekeeping and narcissistic leader is something that unfortunately seeped into my spirit and for a little while there, I started to entertain that maybe they were right.
By God’s grace, I have been able to call that messaging what it really is which is a lie from the pit of hell. Women throughout history have proven time and time again that we can do anything we set our minds to and we can do it with excellence and integrity. Moreover, as a Black woman, I have had to learn that many people will try to place labels on you and make you fit into a box but, you can’t let them succeed. Those people don’t have the capacity to do the things that you have been graced and called to do. I am careful who I allow to speak into my life and I don’t submit to every “leader” that presents in my story. Instead, I trust Gods word about who HE says that I am and I now choose my mentors with a meticulous and discerning strategy instead of letting others assign them to me.
I am living proof that you can be successful in whatever you choose to do, period.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.scenebyteah.com
- Instagram: /scene_by_teah
- Facebook: /scenebyteah
- Linkedin: Tierrah Ojeda
