We had the good fortune of connecting with Tammy Zelez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tammy, what do you want people to remember about you?
I want my legacy to be based on the person behind the camera. I want people to remember their experience with me and the fun we had in their session. I want them to remember how comfortable they felt or how their personality stood out in their photos. I want them to know how much I genuinely care about them and not just the job!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am extremely passionate about capturing personality through photos. I want to see the soul of a person and show their true selves through those images. My goal is for my clients to look at their images and realize how beautiful they truly are inside and out! I am not finished with my success story just yet, it’s always a work in progress, right? The road that has been tough is the discovery of myself through all of this. Because in order to know where I want to be with my business, I need to know where I want to be. Digging into myself has been challenging, but I am embracing it with faith in God and determination. I have learned to not beat yourself up. That what I want out of my business will not happen overnight. I need to be anxious for nothing and in all ways, through prayer and thanksgiving, make my requests known to God. I was a bartender for 16 years at my parents restaurant. Every shift, I waited on pretty much the same people. I greeted them by their name knew what they wanted to drink and eat before they even sat down. I looked forward to hearing the stories about their days. It was this passion for people that led me to want to photograph true personality. I realized that through the lens I saw not only their beauty, but their story, inspiration and courage.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being a photographer, I would take a friend from out of town to some of my fave locations to shoot at! Lake Pleasant, downtown, Old town Scottsdale to name a few. We would have to have drinks at Dillon’s Bayou on Lake Pleasant after a fun day on paddle boards. We could have ice cream at Sugar Bowl while walking all the cute shops in Old Town Scottsdale, and people watch on a patio at a local bar in downtown Phoenix. All while capturing the memorable moments through the lens…

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are quite a few people that have helped in my success. This shoutout first and foremost, goes to my family. My husband has been my biggest supporter and has seen firsthand , the ups and downs and has pushed me every step of the way. I couldn’t be more grateful for him! My daughters are my inspiration every day! They could easily have another favorite photographer but each one of them actually love my work! They fuel me everyday to be a better version of myself for them and my business! I recently met and am now working with a business strategist turned friend, Carlyn Bushman. She has been someone who has opened my eyes to the business side of what I do, which can be daunting at times, but reminds me of my goals in my photography business. She reminds me that I am worth it and that I can grow! Her encouragement and dedication to me and my business has far surpassed what I had expected and I appreciate her so much! I will be launching my podcast, Through The Lens, on September 21, 2020 and I owe a shoutout to Michael Sharkey- Your Podcast Coach. Through my entire coaching experience he has taught me to be vulnerable, to not be afraid to do something outside of my wheelhouse, and to share my story. I am so thankful for his expertise and motivation. I have more fans than I knew I had! From the bottom of my heart, this shoutout goes to them too! I am like a giddy school girl when I have a client reach out with positive feedback of the experience they had with me! My favorite part of the job is the amazing people I meet and work with along the way! Having the privilege to hear their story or help them feel beautiful and confident is truly a blessing for me! If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be doing what I am doing! Thank you to all of you!

Website: https://www.tammyzelezphotography.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammyzelezphotography/
Other: My podcast launches September 21st! Check instagram for podcast info!!

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