Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Robinson.
Tracy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Back in 2008, I was ten years into a career as an HR Manager, and at the time was working remotely for an eCommerce consulting company based out of St. Louis. Photography was quickly becoming an obsession, and I could remember sitting at my desk not engaged in my “real” job at all because I was itching for the second I could leave the office to take pictures. People saw my work and started asking me to do family photos for them and after enough people asked, I decided I needed to become official with a website and business name. At the time, I had four children and a full-time nanny and would wake up at 4:30 am to put in work for my photography business before reporting to my corporate job around 8 am. Within a year of putting up that website and becoming “official,” I was able to leave the corporate world for good. I have been in business close to 11 years and have never looked back.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Honestly, after that initial leap of faith of leaving a really secure, well-compensated job with a ton of benefits to become self-employed, it has been pretty smooth! There have been a few slow periods where I questioned what I was I doing, but those passed quickly as business picked up again.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the SpryART Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
The word “spry” is an adjective that means “full of life and energy.” If you look at my work, you will see that my images are lively, colorful, and unique. I thrive on a family or senior’s energy during their shoot and never put people in stiff poses that feel unnatural. My business and brand, and thus the images I produce, are the opposite of formal (not that there is anything wrong with formal!).
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I am a big fan of Malcolm Gladwell and his book “The Tipping Point,” examines how the smallest things can make a big difference. It is not lost on me that luck plays a role in every business owner’s success, whether they want to admit it or not. I often find myself thinking about how certain seemingly insignificant events have ended up playing a big role in my success. For example, one of my most loyal and favorite clients happened to find me because she was on Facebook at a certain time and happened to see an image I took of a friend’s daughter. If that client had not logged in at that exact time, she may have never seen that post and I would not have her as a client nor the many clients she has referred my way, or the clients they have referred, etc. Of course, hard work and talent are important, but luck is important too (again, whether you want to admit it or not!)
I highly recommend all motivated entrepreneurs listen to a TED talk by Tina Seeling, a Stanford professor that teaches innovation and entrepreneurship. Her talk discusses unexpected ways to increase your luck — and your ability to see and seize opportunities. In fact, I am going to go listen to it again right now!
Contact Info:
- Address: 2 Song Sparrow Place
- Website: www.spryART.com
- Phone: 8327975327
- Email: tracy@spryart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spryartphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spryARTphotography/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/spryart-photography-the-woodlands
Image Credit:
Photo of Me; Kathleen O.Ryan Fine Art Photography; other photos- spryART photography
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