Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Helen Tansey, Owner of Helen Tansey ~ Sundari Photography, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a photographer based in Toronto. I specialize in photographing celebrities, actors, corporate photography, family, and my favorite, Sundari Women.
Tell us about yourself
I was discovered in Toronto at the age of 17 and sent to model in Europe. It was a great experience but I was always more interested in what the photographers were doing. After a few months of working in Paris, I received the devastating news that my brother was sick, and I had to return to Toronto. I was able to be with him, help care for him, and love him until he passed away. My life had turned around, and I no longer wanted to be a model and was a little lost, so I took a job in a studio working for a photographer. Over time, he taught me how to shoot, and I began taking photos of my friends. Their agents started noticing my work, and soon I worked up the courage to get back a loan at the age of 25 and go out on my own. I have always believed that if something is meant for you, the doors will open, and that is what they did. I have been shooting for over 30 years and am considered one of Toronto's top portrait photographers.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I feel very grateful to have a business that has grown with me. When I had my two boys, my word day would start at 9:30 after I dropped them off at school. My days were finished by 3 pm so I could pick them up. I feel so fortunate that I was able to work and be there for my kids. Just before COVID, I published a book called "Sundari Women." It is a beautiful black-and-white coffee table book with over 40 images of women between the age of 50-95 years old. These raw and powerful images captured the beauty of aging. Each woman celebrated their gray hair, wrinkles and shared their wisdom about what getting older meant to them. They did not shy away from aging and shared their pearls of wisdom on what it is to be a woman. The book was a huge success; I was featured on Breakfast Television, Canada AM, CBC, and The Star. I spoke about my book Sundari Women and the importance of women being celebrated as they age.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I love having my own business and there are so many perks to running it. One of the hardest things for me was learning to run my business like a business. There are a lot of amazing artists out there that don't succeed or go bankrupt because they don't do their taxes or run their companies like a business. For a lot of artists, this can be challenging. I had to take business lessons, meet with my accountant, and pay taxes on time. If I don't understand something in business, I ask, and even though I am an artist, it is still a business, and I have had to learn to braid them together.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be authentic in the work you do.
- Be kind and show people respect and love.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help. There is always someone there to help and support you.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.sundariphotography.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helentanseyphotography/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-tansey/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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