We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tiffany Bumgardner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tiffany below.

Hi Tiffany, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I have been a professional photographer for 14 years and I’ve seen what success looks like in its many forms. For many photographers out there success looks like earning a living from photography. It looks like being able to claim; I’m a photographer on your taxes.

For me, success doesn’t necessarily scream I’m a photographer when I can claim it on my taxes so much as believing in my heart and in my head that I am a photographer. And what I mean by that is that I want to be alive by photography.

To be a successful photographer, it is my belief that you have to be taking and creating images that you love. That you are out there doing the work and meeting people, seeing new landscapes, laying in the dirt, waiting for the right wildlife to come along to photograph. Being a successful photographer is creating every day whether it’s for yourself, for your family, for a mass audience, for recognition; whatever it is that drives you. Being successful as a photographer is simply creating..

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a photographer I specialize in documentary fine art equine, portrait and event photography. I have been building my current brand name Exposure One Studios for 9 years but I have been a working photographer for 14 years.

I got into photography from art. I always had a passion for art and started teaching myself to draw and paint when I was 8 years old. Art helped build me into a photographer from teaching me all the fundamentals from composition to identifying light and shadows and how it builds a piece.

In college I took my first ever photography courses and had fairly quick success which had me launching a business without any knowledge or practical know how on running one, so it has been an evolution and learning process over the years.

I saw myself as a portrait photographer yet it was an invite to photograph rodeo after returning home from working as a photographer assistant on Semester. At Sea that was the biggest challenge and learning curve of my photographic career. I learned how to master my gear, shoot in all kinds of variable lighting conditions and weather. I learned to see moments and create story telling images in one frame. I found a community and passion, that eventually lead me to primarily equine photography.

Today, equestrians keep me busy from events, to portrait work, to flyer or ad designs. Photography is still my passion even as my brand as evolved to include graphic design, publishing, and public speaking. I am passionate about photography and excited to see where it will take me in the future because 14 years ago Exposure One Studios wasn’t even on my radar proving the best things are unexpected.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Exposure One Studios wasn’t always the dream. In fact, photography, wasn’t the dream; fine artist however was. That was the first pivot of many for me, pivoting from fine art to photography- a technological based art form I knew nothing about and started learning right out of high school.

I was enthralled by photography and I quickly launched my business TB Photography in 2011. I really had no idea how to run a business, let alone a creative one where I was learning to be a good photographer. It wasn’t an easy journey and not long after I formally started TB Photography I found myself traveling the world with an amazing program and incredibly talented and ambitious individuals who inspired me to dream bigger.

That bigger dream was my next pivot in 2016, which brought Exposure One Studios to life. It was the evolution and dream brand I have been building for 9 years. Pivoting, adapting, expanding, growing, is a huge part of running a business, staying relevant and moving into the future. I expect I will see even more pivots in my future.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

New clients are a photographer’s goal every day. It’s not that we don’t deeply value our regular clients — we do — but new clients bring fresh energy and the excitement of discovery. They expand our reach, introduce our work to new circles, and challenge us to make a strong first impression. Regular clients, on the other hand, bring something equally powerful: respect. Their continued trust affirms our consistency, professionalism, and ability to deliver time and again. Together, new and returning clients are the heartbeat of a thriving photography business.

For me, the best source of new clients is existing clients. When someone values my work, their support naturally extends into referrals, social media posts, tagging, and word-of-mouth within their personal circles. That kind of organic reach is incredibly powerful — it’s rooted in trust and authenticity, and it builds a community around my work, not just a customer base.
My second best source of new clients is simply being visible — showing up, being present at events, and doing what I do best. I carry a big camera and lens, and I tend to stand out. That visibility often sparks conversations; people approach me with specific needs and recognize my professionalism just by seeing me in action. Being out in the community not only builds awareness — it builds trust. Visibility is invaluable.

Contact Info:

• Website: Http://www.exposureonestudios.com
• Instagram: exposureonestudios
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExposureOneStudios
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-bumgardner-4b27b040/
• Other: TikTok: exposureonestudios

Image Credits

All Images were taken and are copyrighted to Exposure One Studios.