Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonya (Tee) Robinson.
TONYA, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always loved photography, everything about it, for years I was just the family memory keeper, I would save and collect old photos that my grandmother or mother had. I would make copies for my family and get them restored and framed and give them as holiday gifts. I’ve always felt that a photo was a much more valuable gift that you could give to someone, vs a new wallet or a pair of slippers. For years, I shot with a point & shoot camera, what you would find at Walmart & Target. Then a few years ago I bought my first professional camera, used of course, from Schillers Camera shop and my love just grew from there. I lived in Clayton at the time and I would walk around and just shoot everything, flowers/trees/buildings/cars…just capturing the beauty around me. I could probably do a whole photography book on Clayton b/c I have so many photos…But now, I’m trying my hand at fashion/editorial style photography. For the past year I’ve been building my network and my portolio, just working with as many models as possible, doing some editorial shoots and just having fun and building…I think I’m going to stick with it, I still love street photography, there is something so calming about just walking with your camera and just taking it all in, but there is something so EXCITING about fashion photography and I think I’m good at it…
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road hasn’t always been smooth, b/c I also work a 9-5 job in fashion and it’s just been hard dedicating time to my ART. My 9-5 is pretty demanding, it requires a lot out of me, I have a lot of responsibilities, so my ART sometimes takes a backseat to it. But this past year I’ve been making sure to stay consistent and feed my passion as well…
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I feel most local models know me for the BEAUTY SHOT. I love getting really close to the model’s face and capturing her essence…erasing the background and zoning in solely on the model’s face. The eyes are truly the windows to a person’s soul. You can see that with the beauty shot.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
LIFE IS SHORT, but at the same time LIFE IS LONG. There is always time to do the things you truly want to do. We MAKE the time to do the things that are important to us. Each day is an opportunity, don’t waste it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tsrphotographystl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tsrphotography_stl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tsr.photography.stl
- Other: https://www.threads.net/@tsrphotography_stl
