Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina DaSilva-Herald.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I picked up a camera in 2008 and started playing around with it. Taking photos of landscapes, sunsets, our horses & dogs. In 2010 my sorority sister was getting engaged, so she asked me to take her photos. But I had never photographed a person before! I didn’t know what to do, how to pose them; I was anxious and scared! But she told me she trusted me and had confidence in me and so, reluctantly, I took their photos. Turns out they loved them! Then another friend wanted photos for their children, another for their family, another for their wedding, and so on and so on. I accepted each challenge as it presented itself. I learned from each shoot. I watched videos, read books, online workshops, taught myself lighting, editing, posing, Lightroom and Photoshop. Then in 2017, I left the corporate world to work for myself, an absolutely terrifying leap of faith – although one I carefully pre-planned for as well – and I never looked back. I’ve owned my own company for 5.5 years now and couldn’t imagine my life any other way. I absolutely love what I do every single day!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am passionate about what I do and so I am my own worst critic. I am self-taught so my way of learning was thru trial and error, tackling challenges as presented in order to learn new skills and grow. Some may say this was quite a painful way to grow. And it was, but not necessarily in a bad way. I have always kept a positive outlook and still to this day I am learning and growing. Evolving. Things became difficult when my hobby of photography became a full-time job alongside my full-time corporate job. And when the two conflicted, I had to make a choice. Continue down the safe path, guaranteed paychecks, benefits, etc. or take a risk and pursue photography as my sole full-time job. Fortunately, I had built my business and built my clientele, along with my confidence and talent over those 7 years, and this allowed me to be successful from day one once I left the corporate world behind.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a child and family photographer specializing in newborn photography. I am an art major so I guess you could say I have always had an eye for art. That allows me to see things that other people don’t always see. Seeing things from a different perspective. I love to create art from the photographs I capture. I do not give out unedited images. In the behind the scenes editing process following a client session, is where I feel I can create images that can stand out from the rest. Lighting, colors, poses, props, angles – all come together to create artwork in photography. I also have a passion for working with people. I love meeting and working closely with clients to bring their visions to life. And working with them through the years and watching their families grow! Not a cookie-cutter photographer or one size fits all. I like to be able to provide a unique individual experience for each family, making clients feel seen, heard, part of the process, and most importantly feel comfortable and have fun! I realize that each family is different, with different styles and personalities. I like to bring that unique style out in their images so they will love and cherish those memories for years to come.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Oh gosh, I love South Florida! I was born and raised here in Broward County. There are so many things to do and see! 20 minutes you can be at the Port and hop on a cruise ship. 3 hours to Key West or 3 hours to Disney, and so much in between. South Florida is a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities. It’s easy to immerse yourself in a variety of different types of music, food, art, and dance! We own a boat and love to be out on the water on the weekends. A great meeting place to hang out with friends and make new ones! We have unique restaurants, big chains as well as small businesses, the most gorgeous beaches to the east, and the everglades to the west. Always upcoming events, concerts & art exhibits to explore.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tinadasilvaphotography.com
- Instagram: @tinadasilvaphotography
- Facebook: fb.com/tinadasilvaphotos
Image Credits
Tina DaSilva Photography
