We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tamara Knox a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tamara , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from the experiences I’ve lived through, my faith in God, and the sense of purpose I’ve found in helping others heal. Leaving an abusive relationship, raising my son as a single parent while supporting him through his challenges, and transforming personal pain into a mission of empowerment have all contributed to shaping my inner strength.
With God’s guidance, I’ve learned to transform trauma into something meaningful—whether through photography, advocacy, or trauma recovery work. My resilience is rooted in healing, community support, and the belief that storytelling can create change. It’s what drives me to lift others up and guide them toward their own healing journeys.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m an Associate Clinical Social Worker and Trauma Informed Photographer with a passion for using the camera as a tool for healing and empowerment. My work focuses on helping individuals, especially survivors of trauma, reclaim their stories through Trauma-informed photography and ethical storytelling. I believe that capturing someone’s truth in an image is not just about taking a picture—it’s about creating a space where they can see their strength and beauty reflected back at them.
What excites me most about what I do is witnessing transformation. When trauma survivors step in front of the camera, it’s not just a photo session—it’s an opportunity for them to be seen and to see themselves in a new light. Photography, for me, is a bridge between art and healing, and every session is a unique, collaborative journey.
I want people to know that TMK Inspired Photo is about more than just images. It’s about storytelling, healing, and resilience. I’ve been through my own journey of trauma and recovery, and that lived experience shapes the way I connect with each client. My goal is to empower others through the lens, helping them embrace their own stories with dignity and strength.
As for what’s new, I’m currently expanding my services to include more workshops and community events. I have developed a special project that combines Trauma Informed photography with ethical storytelling, offering participants a space to reflect on their personal journeys while creating visual narratives. I created a book with community members called “Surviving to Thriving: Narratives of Community Thrivers Surviving Traumas”. It’s an exciting time of growth for me, and I’m looking forward to sharing these new offerings with the community related to healing-centered engagement!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back on my journey, three qualities that stand out as most impactful are resilience, empathy, and creativity. Each has shaped not only my personal path but also the way I connect with others and approach my work.
Resilience: Life has thrown many challenges my way, but my faith in God and determination to keep moving forward have been central to my growth. Resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship; it’s about learning how to adapt and heal through it. My advice for those early in their journey is to embrace setbacks as part of the process. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, lean on your community, and trust in your ability to rise again.
Empathy: Being able to deeply understand and connect with others’ emotions has been a vital skill in my work. Whether it’s through mental health advocacy or photography, empathy allows me to create safe, supportive spaces where people feel seen and heard. For those looking to develop this skill, my advice is to actively listen to others’ stories without judgment. It’s in those moments of deep connection that real healing and transformation can occur.
Creativity: Creativity has been my way of processing pain, turning it into something beautiful and meaningful. Whether through photography or storytelling, creativity allows us to reimagine ourselves and the world around us. To foster this, I suggest exploring art in all its forms—find a medium that speaks to you and use it to express what words alone can’t capture. Don’t be afraid to experiment or make mistakes; that’s where the magic happens.
For anyone starting out, the journey will have its ups and downs, but developing resilience, empathy, and creativity can help you navigate those challenges with purpose and heart.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was instill a deep sense of faith and resilience. They taught me to lean on God in times of hardship and to believe in my own strength, no matter what life throws at me. Their guidance in staying rooted in faith has been a constant source of strength, especially during the most difficult moments in my life.
They also modeled the importance of compassion and helping others, which has shaped the way I approach my work today. My mom especially modeled this with empathy as a social worker in group homes for males. My dad modeled this while mentoring others during his service in the military. Watching them face their own challenges with grace taught me the value of perseverance and the power of community. Their influence continues to inspire the way I show up for myself, my son, and my community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tmkinspiredphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focusedtmk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-knox-tknox/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tmrknox
Image Credits
Autumn Payne
Nick F.
Malia Turner
Tamara M. Knox
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
