Professional in Front of or Behind the Lens

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tija Medina, owner of Tija Medina Photography, located in Vancouver, WA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I own a local Vancouver, Washington, photography business. My clientele includes Seniors, families, businesses, wedding couples, maternity, and pretty much everyone!!

Tell us about yourself

I think, like most, I picked up my first DSLR as a hobby and mainly shot photos of my kiddos. This was all prior to social media and even cell phones (dating myself). Digital photos at that time were much more complex to edit and share. I slowly progressed into taking photos for friends and their kiddos, and as the tech world progressed, so did I. Eventually, I was thriving doing the part-time evening and weekend photo shoots as I was also working full time. I decided in 2020 to quit my full-time job of 15 years and go at this photography thing full speed ahead. During the pandemic, of course, it was incredibly challenging. Last year was the first time I felt that things were turning upward business-wise. I have three kiddos of my own and two grand babies that bring me so much joy each day. They have all motivated me to keep going and move forward successfully.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is just that. The scariest thing I've ever done in my life was quit my security blanket job I had for almost 15 years and started working for myself. I had to trust myself and my process, and that did not happen overnight. It's always a work in progress.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things about being a business owner is understanding the business's ups and downs. My work is seasonal, so budgeting properly in the busy months to carry over to the slow has been a hard lesson learned. I am constantly learning every day. I ask a lot of questions. I have recently plunged into many local networking events with other small business owners to gain knowledge of my industry.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

If I could give only three tips, they would be:

Do your research!!! This is so key. Knowing your industry, your competition, and your target markets is so key.
Be vulnerable! Don't be afraid to ask questions, join the forums, network with your peers, and market yourself!!! Self-confidence! Honestly, this has been my nemesis. Imposter syndrome is a real thing when you are in the arts, especially.
Find your own groove and know how to market your groove! Don't try to follow the herd. Lead it!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://tijamedinaphotography.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tijamedinaphotography
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Tijamedinaphotography/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tija-medina/

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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