Today we’d like to introduce you to Tera Vannoy
Hi Tera, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It all started with a camera and a ring. My husband of 15 years gave me my first DSLR camera when he proposed to me, and I have been taking photos ever since. In 2012, I decided to take my Nikon camera and see if I could build my own business. I started with small weddings and family photography. Once I started a family, being away on the weekends was not maintainable, and I switched to focusing mainly on family photo sessions.
I am self-taught, and my photography skills have grown tremendously over the years, but in 2020, I had to make a big decision. Like many people, it was a year of reflection. I sat at my desk and wondered what I really wanted to do with my life. On a post-it note, I wrote down one word: books. From there, I realized I wanted to be a writer and spend my time around books. I want to be a writer, and I want my world to revolve around books and literature.
As for writing, I am revising my first book and hope to enter the publishing world soon. The process of putting pen to paper has not only brought me new joy but has also been therapeutic for my struggles with anxiety and other stresses. I am currently launching my newsletter and seeking ways to submit my writing to other blogs and publications.
Writing is my new journey, but I will always be a photographer. When I am not writing, I photograph botanicals or my travels. I have some ideas for fine art concepts, but with my first book in the making and two school-age kids at home, I am happy to have a hobby I greatly enjoy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My creative journey has been up and down. I am a self-taught photographer, and I struggled with not feeling adequate with my skills for many years. I had a hard time not comparing myself to other photographers when I saw some of the fantastic work they created. Photo sessions demanded a lot of energy, and as I started my own family, I became increasingly fatigued. Then Covid hit, I was getting older, and somewhere in the mix, I lost the desire to build a portrait photography business.
There also seemed to be a lot of photographers in San Diego, and I did not have the same ‘hustle’ mentality that many others had. I focused too much on what I could not offer (studio space, lighting equipment, big lenses, etc.) instead of celebrating what made my work unique (romantic style, moody, natural light, creative, etc.) As a first-time business owner, I struggled with maintaining a business. I just wanted to take and edit photos, but so much work goes into growing, marketing, and selling photography. I had a hard time managing things.
Being a photography mom was hard, and being a writer mom is hard now. I have struggled with the balance of being a good mother for my children while also not losing the rhythm of what I am creating. Only over time have I learned how to balance a better creative/home life and what works, especially for my family.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For Writing
I am a fiction writer who focuses on stories about family, class struggle, identity, and hope. On my blog, I also write about different topics, such as mental health and my writing process. I am working on building a monthly rhythm of sending information to those interested in my current book and information about future writing projects.
I am still new to the writing industry, but I believe I have a unique voice and a perspective I am excited to see come through in the characters I create. Classic literature deeply inspires me, and I am also inspired by how the written word can have a significant effect on a person’s life, even many years after a book has been published. I like to write with legacy in mind while also remembering that the reader wants to enjoy a good book. I have so many ideas, and I cannot wait for people to read the many books I hope to publish!
For Photography
Most of my photography is for me right now. My style is moody, romantic, and earthy. I like rich colors, shadows, and nature, and I try to find those things wherever I happen to be. I walk, travel, and test new conceptual ideas, trying to find a story to share.
I am very proud of what I have learned from running a photography business. I have gained more confidence, I am less concerned with having all the right answers, and I am less intimidated than I used to be. That growth led me to the decision to switch my efforts to writing and not overthink as much. Although I did not succeed in having a robust portrait photography business, I am proud of myself for giving it a try. I also have not given up on photography, and I hope that when I do figure out what to do next, I will do so with a lot more confidence.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
As I mentioned, 2020 was pivotal for many reasons, but mainly because of my hard switch from photography to writing. What was interesting was eight years earlier, when I decided to start a photography business, I made a snap decision and left my job, and yet I immediately felt like I was not going to succeed. That doubt haunted me all those years. Jump ahead, and I have a kindergartener and toddler at home; I had to have a real heart-to-heart with myself. I asked myself, “What do I really want to create that takes some time away from kids, and when I am old, Lord willing, I will not regret where and how I used my energetic youth?” Something about the world shutting down allowed me time to pause and reflect.
The answer came when I thought of my love of books and reading. The decision to switch my mind from photos to books was not a snap decision. It was thought that came in a flash, but I spent some time thinking about what the implications would be and gave myself room to test out some ideas. I had to ask myself, “Do I really want to be a successful writer? I am going to be ok if hardly anybody reads my books?” Whether I sell millions of books or only a hundred, I feel my heart rejoice at the opportunity. But I did not want writing books to be my only occupation. That was when I came up with a list of ways I could support the love of literature with my family and in the community. This led me to start volunteering with my local Friends of the Library, build a Little Free Library, and advocate for education and reading programs.
I have yet to have my work read and critiqued by professionals, but I carry with me all the years of confidence I built in my previous business, and somehow, I know with all my being that I am on the right path. If I had not had the time to simply pause, I am not sure if I would have been brave enough to shift my focus.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.teravannoy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teravannoy
Image Credits
Photos were all taken by me, Tera Vannoy
