We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tracy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tracy, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?

Asking my friends and family to support my business is… well, let’s just say, a journey in itself. From 2010 to 2023, I ran a successful social media marketing company called Your Virtual Footprint. My mission? To help individuals and organizations market, promote, and sell their products and services in the most effective and efficient way possible—without pulling their hair out over hashtags and algorithms.

Over those 13 years, I wore many hats: trainer, virtual assistant, strategist, consultant, and occasionally, therapist for frustrated small business owners. Whether I was behind the scenes managing content or offering guidance on fine-tuning a social strategy, my focus was always on results. The strategies worked, awareness grew, and—most importantly—my clients thrived. Word-of-mouth was my best marketer (and the cheapest one), and the long hours were worth it, though I won’t lie—coffee and determination were in a long-term relationship.

In 2024, I made the leap from digital strategy to visual storytelling, transitioning Your Virtual Footprint from keyboards and content calendars to iPhone photography. Now, that footprint finds itself dancing in the sands of sunrises and sunsets, capturing moments of quiet solitude and unexpected beauty in nature—those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kinds of scenes.

So yes, it’s a bit surreal to now be the one asking for support, instead of guiding others on how to gain it. But if the past 13 years taught me anything, it’s that a strong network can move mountains (and that success—whether online or behind a lens—rarely happens by accident. It takes heart, hustle, and a well-timed golden hour).

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My journey as an artist is relatively short, tracing back to my beginnings on Instagram in October 2012 as an amateur iPhone photographer. It took time for me to capture a truly noteworthy photo – and even that initial achievement is debatable! 📷

The allure of taking photos spontaneously (literally “on the run”) coupled with the advancement of iPhone technology, encouraged me to continue experimenting with this medium.

Contrary to a background rooted in creativity, I spent the last 13 years as a social media marketer and arts administrator. Now, as the Arts, Culture & Tourism Coordinator for the City of St. Pete, I continue to be surrounded by creative souls and supportive friends who inspire me to explore my “eye for photography”, but I often perceive it as a blend of luck, good timing and patience. 😅

Lacking formal artistic skills and uninterested in traditional photography equipment, I sought to elevate my craft by enrolling in iPhone Photography School in 2018. Completing courses such as the iPhone Photo Academy, iPhone Landscape Mastery, and the iPhone Editing Academy marked the beginning of my exploration.

The journey doesn’t end here – there’s more to come! My plan is to continue learning and experimenting with diverse perspectives. In a world where everyone possesses a smartphone, I aim not just for beautiful photos but for exceptional ones. The quest for uniqueness and excellence is an ongoing adventure that I’m excited to embrace. 🚀

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What’s helped me build my tiny reputation in photography is the same thing that helped me thrive in social media marketing: intention, consistency, and a focus on connection. As well as posting a LOT of pretty photos on Facebook and Instagram.

When I transitioned into iPhone photography, I brought with me years of experience in storytelling and visual strategy. But instead of crafting messages for brands, I started capturing moments—raw, real, and often fleeting. Whether it’s the stillness of a sunrise, the quiet drama of a storm rolling in, or an unexpected encounter with wildlife, my goal is to freeze those moments that make people stop scrolling and start feeling.

I’ve built trust by showing up authentically and letting the work speak for itself. I don’t just snap pretty pictures—I try to create images that tell a story, evoke emotion, or remind someone of a place they’ve never been but somehow miss.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Aside from the personal joy that my photography brings to me, it’s the feedback and responses I receive from friends and family when they see a photo that resonates with them. I recently sold a piece to a colleague who stated, “I took a picture of it and keep going back to it. So I would like to purchase it!” Then when she received the artwork she wrote, “Picked it up and I’ll be smiling for a long time. Thank you!!” That right there is my reward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yourvirtualfootprint.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libragirltracy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracykennard/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracykennard/

Image Credits

Tracy Kennard at Your Virtual Footprint aka @LibraGirlTracy