We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natasha Swanson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natasha below.
Hi Natasha, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Growing up I knew I wanted to be a photographer but in high school I decided that I wanted to connect both my love for sports and photography together. Once I started getting into the industry I quickly learned that being a women working in sports was not very common so usually at sporting events I was the only women there. I would have to work even harder to just be seen with my work but I never let being the only women stop me. I used it to my ability and showed others why not only myself but other women belong in sports. I found different ways to stand out with my photographs. Even though now it is kinda common to see women working at sporting events, I still continue to make sure I stand out til this day. I never want to blend in with the rest.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As of right now, I am a freelance sports photographer or photographer living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I have photographed for so many teams, athletes and colleges around the Carolina’s and my list continues to grow each year.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three sayings that repeat in my head as I continue my journey is “Keep going”, “God always has a plan”, and “I am right where I need to be”.
In 2020, I had to get a brain surgery for my chronic illness Chiari Malformation so the saying “keep going” was what really kept me wanting to not only get my health back to normal but also to be able to get back to taking photos.
I always remind myself that God has a plan for everything that happens to me and that He has me right where I need to be so I don’t have to worry about what is next. God has given me so many opportunities in the industry and I know that He has everything already planned out for me so I just continue to do what I am doing and the rest will come no matter what. What is meant for you will always find you.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I always hear “creative people need time to sit around and do nothing” so when I feel overwhelmed about a project I am working on or just things not going the way I want them to in just life then I always take a break from it all. I either go do things that I enjoy that has nothing to do with my work like working out, go for a walk, visit with friends or family or find something at home I can do to take my mind away from it all. After a day or hours I usually get back to what I am working on but I think it always helps to take a step back and take a break from it all, to put my mind on something else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nlssportphotos.com/
- Instagram: _youngtash
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashaswanson/
- Twitter: _youngtash
Image Credits
photo of me: Reagan Lunn
