Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Liu.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Photography started as a hobby for me. I always liked to dabble so I’ve dipped my feet into many different types of creative outlets over the years, but no other hobby has made me as obsessed and dedicated as photography has. What drew me to portrait photography and what still keeps it sustainable as a passion is the reaction I receive from my clients and subjects.
When I was portfolio building, I photographed a lot of my friends as practice. I loved watching their confidence grow when they got their photos back and I loved showing them the beauty I see in them. Making my clients feel confident, beautiful, and empowered is still a core motivator for me and makes portrait photography fulfilling work.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s amazing to me that this hobby of mine has grown into a business. I never would have predicted this path for myself. I graduated college a year ago thinking that I would get a corporate job related to my degree, climb the ladder, retire at 65, and that would be my life. It was hard for me to be okay with breaking away from that traditional path to success.
It’s difficult to make the transition from hobbyist to professional photographer. When I was an amateur building my portfolio, I did a lot of work for free. As I established myself as a professional, a lot of people – particularly friends – didn’t see the value in my work, my art, or my time, and still expected me to photograph for pennies. It’s important to draw a line once you reach a certain skill level and it’s especially important to know the worth of your work. Value your work and your talent. Don’t lowball yourself. People who truly like and respect your work will pay for it.
Tina Liu Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I provide portrait and lifestyle photography services in and around Boston. I specialize in natural light portraits and people photography – things like senior portraits, blogger content creation, headshots, maternity, couples, and family portraits. I have recently expanded my services to include studio photography and real estate/interior photography.
Client satisfaction is my first priority. I pride myself on being easy to work with, flexible, and making sure my clients are comfortable and informed from initial contact with me all the way to the delivery of their photos. I also have a quick turnaround time which most people appreciate.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
To preface this, I have always been a perfectionist. Feeling successful and perfectionism do not go hand in hand. I’ve started to put a big mental effort into recognizing my own achievements and attributing them to my own hard work. I feel successful when I feel pride in my work and my accomplishments. It’s an internal measure for me. While external praise and recognition bolsters that feeling and validates me, it’s just talk- and talk is cheap. In a way, I am glad that the feeling of success is hard for me to attain. It keeps me striving to improve.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tinaliu.co
- Email: tina@tinaliu.co
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/tinalumina
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/tinalumina
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/tinaliuco
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
