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

Hi Timothy, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I spent 80% of my life focused on one singular goal, that ultimately failed. I thought I wanted to be a professional football player. From the age of 4 until 21, all I ever thought that made me significant was how well I could throw a ball. It wasn’t until after my last college game that I began to self reflect on who I was without football. And I realized, I was a stranger to myself. I didn’t believe I had a purpose without football and for the first time in my life, I didn’t know what my next step would be. However, on March 10th of 2023, my mom gifted me a journal with a message on the first page that told me to “Trust God; pour out and write through the process.” So, I started writing and discovered two epiphanies. The first being that I no longer had the passion to play the sport that I had put so much time into and the second being that I had no relationship with God. So, I started to read the Bible and annotate as I progressed through. The more I read, the more I began to discover that the passion that I thought I only had for football was actually deeper than just playing. The passion I had was for connection and contribution to a purpose greater than my own. To be united with the people around me going through the same suffering and setbacks. And to help uplift those who feel defeated. Now these don’t sound like missions that solely fit a photography and videography company, and that’s because they don’t. The biggest lesson this journey has taught me so far is to be careful of the labels we put on ourselves because they can create limitations on our imagination. So, these missions are not only at the center of every business idea and project I create, but at the center of my purpose as well. They have molded me into the entrepreneur I am today and the artist I will be tomorrow. So, currently I use these missions to build connections by capturing moments in time in a way that makes a memory seem timeless. That way when a person looks at that picture or video, they never forget what it felt like to be a part of it.

Timothy, 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?

Hello, I am Timothy Tillman Jr. I’ve technically been in the media and communications industry for over a decade. I started taking mass communications classes in middle school and throughout high school and I majored in the field throughout college. These classes helped me learn a variety of skills such as public speaking, journalistic writing, creative direction, editing, photography, and videography. The business I started on May 7th of 2023, 2 Tough Pics, provides photography, videography, and editing services for all occasions from prom send offs and graduations to baby pictures and lifestyle video and photoshoots. I believe what sets my business apart from others is that I don’t charge clients based on a certain amount of pictures. I believe that the client should get as many chances to capture their moment in a way that satisfies them, instead of settling for anything less. I am most proud of the fact that I chose to bet on myself by creating something of my own instead of taking an easier route. I want present and future clients to know that this business is truly not about their money, but their satisfaction. The fulfillment of seeing a client smile at what we worked together to create is something that you can’t put a price on.

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

For a creative, work never stops. Work is essentially a lifestyle, so there is no “time off.” For people that are close to creatives it can get frustrating trying to find time to spend with them because at any given time an idea can turn into a lifelong project. But, you are not insignificant or unimportant because of our work. A creative’s purpose in life is their work. It’s no longer just about a paycheck. Our work brings us fulfillment and most importantly, peace. So, we may isolate ourselves more often than most, but we do care about the people around us that are supporting us through our journey. And we cherish the moments we spend with you, no matter how few and in between those moments can be.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

From June 2023 to March 2024, I did not make any profit. In fact, I wasn’t breaking even, so I was losing money every month. For 8 consecutive months I struggled with making the decision to keep putting 100% of my time into my business or cutting that time down heavily by getting a job. However, as the amount of money I had kept getting lower and lower, I kept my faith in the path that God created for me. Each time I felt like there was no way I would make it through the next month, He blessed me, whether it was through a family member or a new client. It is May 7th at the time of writing this and I realized that today marks the first year anniversary of my business. Those 8 consecutive months of resilience have resulted in my first consecutive months of profit in March and April. I look forward to keep that streak going.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: 2toughpics, tim2tough