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

Tracy , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

This question comes at a very funny time… My husband and I were just talking about this very thing. Let me first start by saying that every day as an entrepreneur is a gift. Honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. But it is NOT EASY! There are good days and bad days, but the bad days can get really bad. Sometimes the thought does cross my mind that it certainly would be easier just having a regular job and working regular hours. For me, that would not be fulfilling. Owning your own business means you are going after your dreams, at least for me it does. Those days when it gets really tough and you want to quit, it’s ok too but ONLY for the day. You have to get right back on that horse and keep going. You didn’t come this far only to get this far!!

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

A little bit of how I got into photography, my mom put a camera in my hands in HS. I really wanted to go to a beauty school. But she didn’t think that was a good direction for me. I left NY, moved to GA where she was living at the time got a job and worked for a while. I met my husband and his job moved us to FL a year later, which is where I decided to go back to college (at 30) and finish my degree. I have a BA in Media Arts and an AA in Photography. I found out I was pregnant as I was about to graduate. I knew no one was going to hire me at that point so that is when I decided that opening my own business was the way to go! I have worked in all genres of photography. I have done weddings, portraits, real estate, newborns, pregnancy, lifestyle, sports, high school seniors, branding, headshots, and products. I settled on lifestyle, high school seniors, and branding, with some products thrown in there. Those are the genres I work in now and love them!

My main purpose is to offer my clients an experience like no one else. They get the VIP treatment from me when they come in if it’s just for a quick headshot or they have a day of Branding. I have a special experience for my high school seniors as well. I want each of my clients to feel like a celebrity when they are with me. I love what I do and I love when people leave my set feeling confident and beautiful and I know they have had a great time

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Photography can be a tricky business. There are so many out there, and so many great photographers. The thing that sets some of us apart is our training. I have followed quite a few very big photographers in our industry who have become millionaires not because of their photos but because of their business minds. They sell more than just their photography services and products. The one that has had the most impact on me is Sue Bryce, I have been following her since 2012 before she got super huge. But she created an entire education platform and now teaches people all over the world. She not only has mastered her craft but she is a very smart businesswoman too. I think sometimes that is where creatives fall short. They are awesome at what they do, but don’t have the business mind to back it up and why some are not successful. That was me for sure in the beginning I didn’t know how to run a business but I had to figure it out or not survive.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

When I first started my business, word of mouth was all I had. Which is the best marketing you can find but I needed to get in front of people outside that circle. So I started with Groupon, this was back before social media. I needed to get in front of a lot of people and I thought that would be a good way to do that. It was popular and inexpensive and I thought that was a great way for me to start out. It proved to work out well for me. I found people that are still my clients today. Now that we have social media it is easier to get in front of lots of people and show them what you can do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tlcbrandphotogrpahy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tlcstudios1/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracylynncompany/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-croushorn-90330318/

Image Credits
Artist Credits: Models: World Ambassador International Titleholders @worldambassadorcompetition Hair and Makeup – @lizglammua Liz Everett & Quanda Yvette Styling: @styledbylizeverett Photographer: @tlcstudios1- Tracy Croushorn Product photo – Tlc Studios/Tracy Croushorn Red background – Styling: @styledbylizeverett Hair and Makeup – @lizglammua Photographer – TLC Studios / Tracy Croushorn Butterfly Dress Photographer – TLC Studios/Tracy Croushorn Hair and Makeup: @LaraqueBeautyBox / Elizabeth Laraque Black and gold with green couch photo Styling: @styledbylizeverett Hair and Makeup – @lizglammua Photographer – TLC Studios / Tracy Croushorn