We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tonaya Wright. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tonaya below.
Tonaya , appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
This year, I made a quiet promise to myself: to honor rest as a vital part of my creative process. Each week, I carve out an entire dayfree of to-do lists, obligations, and the constant hum of productivity. Phones off. No appointments. Just space to breathe.
Most mornings, I rise before the sun, when the house is still and the world feels like it’s mine alone. In those early hours, without noise or expectation, I feel most connected to myself and that’s when the creative thoughts come. The most honest ideas. The ones that aren’t rushed or forced.
Reshaping my business around rest wasn’t just about avoiding burnout. It was about protecting the part of me that creates from a place of depth. The quiet is where my best work begins.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My heart behind this work has always been about more than photos. I see each session as a sacred opportunity to create something lasting, an heirloom that reflects a family’s current season, with all of its beauty, complexity, and quiet in-between moments. It’s important to me that what I create not only preserves memories but also glorifies God and serves His purpose.
Over the years, I’ve been invited into the most vulnerable corners of people’s lives. Chapters marked by silent battles, heartbreak, deep loss, breakthrough, and abundant joy. These moments aren’t always picture-perfect, but they are profoundly real. And I count it a blessing to be trusted with them.
What I offer is more than a photo session. It’s an experience anchored in presence. During our time together, I’m not asking anyone to perform or pose. My hope is that everyone feels safe enough to simply be. I’ll take care of capturing the beauty that already exists.
Looking ahead to 2026, I want to lean even further into this approach. To create work that is raw, unpolished, and true yet still marked by grace and beauty. To tell stories as they are, not just as they appear.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Beyond the technicals, assuming you’ve already mastered your craft and refined your style—I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been: leading with connection, being deeply intentional about the client experience, and learning how to hold space.
A great photograph starts way before the shutter clicks. The tone of your emails, the energy you bring on shoot day, the comfort of knowing someone is guiding them with care. It all matters. I’ve found that when I pour intention into the experience, families open up more easily. And that leads to photographs that feel deeply true but mostly how you make someone feels lingers longer than a beautiful photograph.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron has been a quiet but powerful guide in helping me discover and truly trust my creative voice. One of the practices emphasized in the book that has really stayed with me is the idea of dedicating a small window of time each week to a solo “artist date.” Just one hour, unplugged and free from distraction, to notice the world around you.
Spend time in nature, go on a photo walk, read a book in the park, people watch, sketch, color, paint, or simply sit and breathe. The point is to return to wonder and being present.
So often, it is not just our devices that distract us, but the constant urge to stay busy. The pressure to be productive, to always be doing, can slowly drain the creative spirit. This book reminded me that creativity needs stillness. It needs space. And sometimes the most important thing you can do is step outside and listen. That simple rhythm has helped keep my creative spirit nourished and alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tonayanoel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonayanoelphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonayanoelphoto
Image Credits
Tonaya Noel Photography
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