Meet Tommie Guy

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tommie Guy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Tommie, 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?

For a while, I worried that my age might be a liability. I wondered if young families would feel disconnected from me, or if my energy would come across as less “fun” and more “corny.” I’ve always been the playful one, the adult who jumps into the game, who can click with toddlers and teenagers! But now, with gray hair and laugh lines, I found myself wondering if my goofiness still reads as genuine joy, or if, to a younger crowd, it starts to feel like the grown-up trying too hard. I think about how I used to see older people when I was younger… and I catch myself wondering, have I become that?
I’m gradually letting go of those fears. I trust that my high EI (emotional intelligence) will queue me in when I’m not gelling with kids and I’ll pivot as I always have. Age may make me different but also makes me effective. Experience brings calm. I can read a child’s body language before they know they’re overwhelmed. I can sense when a parent needs a little grace and offer it without judgement. I’ve lived the full arc of motherhood and now grandmotherhood, and what that’s taught me is that everyone, kids and parents, just wants to feel comfortable and liked at these sessions. I bring that, no matter what body I’m in.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a family photographer based in Northern Nevada, and I specialize in outdoor sessions that feel like little adventures. I work with families, expecting parents, and newborns, and my style leans into natural connection.
I’ve learned how to create space for families to be. What’s special about what I do isn’t just the photos, it’s the experience. I want parents to leave their session saying, “That was actually fun,” and I want kids to ask if we can do it again. You know how we sometimes wonder if what we’re remembering is an actual memory or is it just thoughts our brain puts together because of a photo? I want my sessions to create core memories and also live on in photos.
What makes my work especially meaningful to me is that I’m a mom to six and a Grammie to five. I understand the fullness of family: the noise, the chaos, the love. I became a photographer because I am an artist at heart and I was expecting my first child. Despite having a full time job as a Learning and Development specialist for a community college, photography is my passion and I feel blessed to have a profitable business doing it.
As for what’s new this year, I’ve structured my packages to include an album. It’s important to me that families have all of their photos printed professionally and in their hands. I expect this to pay off in future years as they realize that album is truly one of the most precious things they own.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Understanding people has made me a better photographer. I’ve learned how to read a room, spot tension, shift energy, and help people feel comfortable. That’s what helps me connect to my clients and capture authentic moments. If you can make someone feel at ease, the rest will come.
Secondly, invest in coaching and professional development. It’s too easy to keep doing what you’re doing. I came to coaching late, just in the last two years. It has helped me grow by leaps and bounds.
And third, the whole process of developing and using positive affirmations produces real change. When you say a positive affirmation in the morning, don’t just recite it. Each day, split it apart, understand it, own it.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

Over the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth has been how I see myself, specifically around my age. Over the last 7 or so years, I worried about whether I was still relevant. I’d wonder if young families would feel disconnected from me because I have gray hair or because I don’t fit the mold of the younger photographers and influencers out there.
Through honest conversations (including one that really stayed with me from my coach, Elena S. Blair), and intentional mindset work, I’ve started to see my age differently. Instead of trying to downplay it, I’ve begun to own it.
I now see my years of experience—not just in photography, but in parenting, grandparenting, and life, as something clients value. I trust my instincts more and that shows up in the photos.
This shift in perspective has affected everything.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Tommie Guy Photography

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