Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tina Smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
I believe it takes tenacity to be successful. The truth is your ideas and dreams are yours, and no one else will b able to birth them or support them as much as you will. You’ve got to have a strong conviction from within that pushes you forward in the good and tough times. You won’t always get it right. You won’t always have support, but if your vision and will is strong and you’re determined, you can’t help but win in the end! When I started with photography, I did not have the best gear and did not have the finances to have a website and do all of the things. I focused all of my energy on what I did have and ran with it. I bet on myself! I used social media to get the word out, I let friends and family know that I was in business, and I used every chance I got to put myself out there and use my talent. All of these things didn’t cost me a cent. However, I learned how to put myself out there. It wasn’t always comfortable, but it was worth it!
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 got started in photography in 2016 with my T2i Canon Rebel. I shot so many amazing people and projects on that camera – even some of my portraits got published! I always say, “You don’t need what you think you need to succeed.” I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to capture portraits of actors, business owners, brands, and families over the years. I’ve been able to work with Nike and Women’s Day Magazine, and My journey has evolved over the years, and most recently I have opened up my very own online boutique, Tulip and Temple. I spent so many years helping other business owners build up their brands and I felt like it was time for me to lean into another passion of mine – fashion! Even though it is an online boutique, I made sure to make it community focused by hosting many pop-ups throughout my city with other women-owned small business owners. My mission for my businesses has always been helping others feel beautiful in their skin and to be able to authentically see themselves! We as human beings are so expansive and have so much to offer if we don’t let fear get in the way. It’s also my heart that my businesses help bring people together and build communities for people to connect!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
The biggest lesson I had to unlearn is that the journey to success has to be hard, and you’ve got to work yourself to point of burnout. This is not true, and as a feminine presenting woman, it caused me a lot of mental and physical health issues. I believe that when you focus on what lights you up and invest in yourself to learn skills that will get you to the next level, everything will work itself out. For years I focused on algorithms and platform changes, but it wasn’t until I focused on learning sales and communication skills and started to invest my time and energy into what I knew worked for me. So many times we spend our energy taking in so much conflicting information that we become constipated and burned out. It’s important to take action and see what works for you. Everyone is different and not all platforms and strategies will work for you. Take time to find out what works for you and walk in confidence!
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I highly recommend everyone to read the following: The Psychology of Selling by Brian Tracy, Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards, The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, Atomic Habits by James Clear, The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone, The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/tinasmiff
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinasmiff/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinajsmithphotography
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqzAZe5EeLnxAIjZhUOHylA
- Other: You can view my online boutique at www.tulipandtemple.com
Image Credits
All images were captured by Tina J. Smith Photography LLC