Meet Toni Shaw

We recently connected with Toni Shaw and have shared our conversation below.

Toni, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Building confidence and self-esteem as a photographer, like in any creative field, is a gradual process that involves skill development, practical experiences, mindset shifts and learning to endure the good and bad by balancing both.

You have to learn and improve your skills by continuously educate yourself about photography techniques, equipment, and post-processing. Attend workshops, take online courses, read books, and practice regularly. Understand the technical aspects of your camera and experiment with different settings to enhance your skills.

You have to set realistic goals, seek constructive feedback and not be afraid of the harsh feedback. You can learn from both if you dig deeper behind the comments. Too many photographers take feedback as a completely negative experience vs trying to see what the deliver is trying to point out. You also have to remember the person giving he cc may not even have the experience or skillset to give you proper feedback.

You have to build a supportive network. Surround yourself with a community of photographers who share similar interests. Engage in conversations, attend meet-ups, and participate in photography forums to connect with others who can offer support and encouragement.

Also I suggest that you document your process. Keep a portfolio of your work, documenting your progress over time. Reflect on your journey and acknowledge the improvements you’ve made.
Create a visual record of your favorite shots, and use it to boost your confidence during moments of self-doubt.

Accept the imperfections of your work and understand that not every shot will be “perfect”. Building confidence and self-esteem in photography is an ongoing journey. Stay passionate, be patient with yourself, and enjoy the creative process.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been a full-time photographer for 16 years. I am located in Greensboro, North Carolina, but I travel all over the world to get a great photo. I am multi-genre photographer whose work has flares of a painterly look. In her early years, she began painting and drawing and have fallen back in love with the art of painting in recent years. I am building AI print brand that will hopefully feed my creative desire to excite and inspire people when they see the work.

I shot my first wedding as a novice with a Nikon point and shoot camera in early 2000 and I have yet to slow down since that time.

I am driven not just to improve my work, but I also determined and driven to help other photographers reach their goals as well. Recently, I have launched a new training program called “BLUR”. It is a workshop program designed to help photographers with their lighting challenges.

The program is a 4 hour intensive look at how to understand off camera flash as well as overcome challenging lighting situations. I am just excited to be able to work with other photographers in the upcoming months.

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?
The 3 things that I truly believe that has helped me and has been so impactful in my journey would be: 1. Be consistent. You have to push through even when you don’t feel like doing it. You have to make room for the talent and gift that you say you love. 2. Understand your craft. It is easy to say that you are in business, but if you have not studied the industry and don’t understand the in’s and out’s of the daily process of a photographer, or the expectations from your clients you will be frustrated and want to quit. 3. Research and Preparation! You have to know what’s out there in order to be prepared. The only way to do that is do the research! Learn and adjust with all of these areas and you will continue to grow as a photographer and a business owner.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When your business is strong and you are being bombarded with inquiries, life challenges it can be a beast to deal with. I am not only dealing with business challenges but also managing homelife. So getting overwhelmed is a frequent visitor in my world.

There are 4 things that I have learned to do when I feel like everything and everyone is demanding my time. 1. I do what I can in the time allowed. 2. I call a friend and vent. 3. I call that same friend and ask for help. 4. I walk away and take a break and try to readdress the situation at a later time.

We all have to learn to push back and say no. Sometimes it’s harder to do than most people think. Do it whenever and however you can. Save yourself!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Toni Shaw of Shaw Photography Group

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