We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tana Ostman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tana below.
Hi Tana, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I get my work ethic from my parents. Growing up, I watched both of them work incredibly hard in blue-collar and corporate jobs to provide stability for our family. They always taught me that having a strong work ethic would take me far in life – that doing things for the right reasons matters more than just trying to get rich.
I love my parents deeply, and I’ve always admired how they showed up for work every day to support us. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized I want something a little different for the family I’m building. I don’t just want to go to work and come home; I want to show my kids what it looks like to build something of your own. I want them to see that you can work for yourself, be your own boss, and create a full-time income doing something you’re passionate about.
That’s what drives me every single day – the desire to honor the work ethic my parents instilled in me while also creating a life of freedom, purpose, and possibility for the next generation.
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 a wedding photographer and filmmaker based in Colorado. For me, this work is about so much more than capturing beautiful images – it’s about telling the true story of each couple’s day in a way that feels authentic, emotional, and timeless. I love creating a comfortable and fun environment where people can be themselves in front of my camera, and I feel so honored every time a couple chooses me to document one of the most meaningful days of their lives.
What I find most exciting is being able to combine my passion for storytelling with my creativity. Every wedding is different, and I get to capture all the little moments and details that make each day unique – from the quiet getting ready moments to the big celebrations on the dance floor.
Right now, I’m expanding my business to offer more ways to serve couples, including wedding officiating and photo booth rentals. My goal is to create a full experience where couples can come to me for multiple parts of their wedding day, knowing they will be taken care of by someone who genuinely cares about them and their story.
Overall, what drives me is the desire to help people feel celebrated and to create memories that will last a lifetime.
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, three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are resilience, adaptability, and genuine care for others.
Resilience has helped me keep going through the ups and downs of building my business. There were times I felt like giving up when bookings were slow or things didn’t go as planned, but learning to keep pushing forward and problem-solve has made all the difference.
Adaptability has allowed me to grow and evolve with my clients’ needs and the wedding industry. Being willing to learn new skills, offer new services, and pivot when something isn’t working is so important in any career, especially as an entrepreneur.
Lastly, genuine care for others is at the heart of everything I do. When you truly care about your clients and want to serve them well, it shows in your work and builds trust and connection. People remember how you made them feel, and that’s what keeps them coming back or referring you to others.
For anyone early in their journey, my advice is:
Build resilience by taking challenges as lessons rather than failures. Ask yourself what you can learn and how you can grow each time something doesn’t go as planned.
Stay adaptable by never thinking you know it all. Always be open to learning, feedback, and trying new things to improve your craft or business.
Lead with care and authenticity. The more you care about serving people well, the more your work will stand out because people feel that energy and intention.
These three qualities have carried me through so many seasons of my career, and I believe they are essential for anyone wanting to create something meaningful and lasting.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
The people who have been most helpful in my journey are my fiancé and my clients. My fiancé has supported me through every challenge and every late night editing session. He always reminds me why I started and believes in me, even on the days when I don’t believe in myself. Having someone who genuinely wants to see me succeed has made such a huge difference in my confidence and motivation.
My clients have also played a big role in helping me grow. Every couple I’ve worked with has taught me something new – whether it’s about patience, creativity, problem-solving, or how to better serve people. Their trust in me pushes me to keep improving my skills so I can give them the absolute best. Seeing their reactions to their photos or videos reminds me exactly why I do what I do, and that fuels my drive to keep learning and growing as a professional.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tanaostman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanaostman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanaostman
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tanaostmanphotography
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tana-ostman-photography-greeley-3
Image Credits
Picture of Tana: Taken by Karah Kost
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
