Meet Tisha Galloway | Mom & Lifestyle Photographer

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

Hi Tisha, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My work life balance is still a work in progress, but I’ve come a long way from when I started my photography business in Fall 2019. I have been in the “hustle” phase of starting my own business for quite some time. Aside from shooting and editing, there is so much that goes on behind the scenes – marketing and trying to grow my clientele, accounting, social media, customer service, website maintenance, education, etc. That’s all very time consuming! Throughout 2020 and 2021 I worked to put more efficient business processes in place and to streamline my workflows. By working more efficiently, I’ve been able to set better boundaries between my work and personal life.

Owning your own business can be all-consuming if you let it and setting boundaries is important so you don’t burn out. I love photography and owning my own business, but I don’t want it to control my time. I also don’t want to set an example for my 6 year old son that family time is only fit in when I have a break from work. I now tailor my office hours around my son’s school schedule so that I’m able to spend time with him in the afternoons. Our evenings and weekends are for family time, social events, etc. with the exception of sessions, and even then I sometimes bring my son and husband. If you ever schedule a beach session with me, you’ll most likely meet my family!

Working more efficiently, setting boundaries, and being able to spend less time hustling has really benefitted me and my mental health, as well as benefitted our family, which ultimately is the most important thing to me!

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I am a natural light, lifestyle photographer specializing in families. For those not familiar with lifestyle photography, it’s unposed, candid, storytelling. It’s the family paying attention to each other and not my camera. It’s capturing authentic connection and interaction between you and your family. My sessions typically take place during Golden Hour just prior to sunset, when the sun is soft and flattering, giving everything a beautiful golden glow. I love color so my editing style is bright and vibrant. One of my challenges as a photographer has been to learn how to edit an image the way I see it in my head. It has taken a while to get to where I am with my editing style and admittedly it has been frustrating at times to learn how to really dial in settings both on my camera and in my editing program. Editing is so technical that it can be hard for a Creative to take the time to understand how those settings can bring our vision to life with each image. Thankfully there are photographers who are also educators that have helped me navigate this challenge through mentorships.

I believe I look at photography a bit differently than most photographers do. I grew up in the Midwest with all my extended family living relatively close, I have a History degree, and genealogy is one of my hobbies. All of those factors have helped me understand why I’m so drawn to family photography. I believe in the importance of documenting your family and in the value of what you can learn from your family’s history. I want to create nostalgia for not only your family in the present, but for future generations by creating images that add to your family’s visual history and legacy. I want your grandkids to look at photos that make them feel connected to you and to appreciate where they came from. And I want them to look at the images and say things like, “Wow, Grandma was pretty!” and “Grandpa always had a great smile!” I want them to treasure those photos as much as you do!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
San Diego is full of so many amazing places to eat and things to do! I have several favorites when it comes to eating out. Nectarine Grove in Leucadia has great gluten free breakfast options, Little Italy has amazing pasta and gelato, Lourdes Mexican Food in Escondido makes THE best chicken soup, Tapioca Express in Kearney Mesa makes my favorite bubble tea, and Board & Brew has the best gluten free wrap. And we can’t forget a stop at Extraordinary Desserts!

When in San Diego, you have to visit at least one beach. My favorite location to hold sessions is Torrey Pines State Beach so we’d check out both the cliff trails and the beach. Sunset Cliffs is a must see and Crystal Pier in PB is a fun area. The view from the tide pools in Point Loma makes you feel like you’re practically out to sea and of course I’d have to take them to the beach in Coronado where my husband and I got married!

We could easily spend a day or more at Balboa Park checking out all the museums and gardens. A drive through Mission Hills, Point Loma, and Rancho Santa Fe is fun for looking at beautiful, unique homes. A game at Petco Park is always a good time. Some beautiful spots to hike are Mission Trails, Lake Hodges, and Elfin Forest, but hiking to Potato Chip Rock in Poway and getting that iconic picture that looks like your legs are dangling over the edge of nothing is a fun adventure!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband is definitely at the top of the list. The joke in my industry is that photography is the world’s most expensive hobby, not a job, because we’re always spending more money than we make – camera equipment is fun and quite expensive! My husband has been very supportive of the costs associated with being a photographer, as well as the unconventional schedule of working on the weekends.

I love being a photographer and am always striving to improve my skills through education and practice. I’ve attended workshops, taken online educational courses, and gone through mentorships with established photographers including Kayla Locke, Ashley Marker, Kendra Ashton, Theresa Sherron, and Naomi Hopkins. My skills and knowledge have increased so much thanks to them and I’m so appreciative of all the time and energy they put into teaching!

I’m also thankful to all the photographers that I’ve met the past couple years, including Instagram and Facebook friends. I’m grateful for the encouragement and feedback that I’ve received from them. I’m especially grateful for the group of local San Diego photographers I’ve gotten to know through meetups, styled shoots, and coffee dates that I can now call real life friends. We send referrals to each other, offer advice on session locations, and genuinely want each other to succeed. Based on conversations I’ve had with photographers outside SD, this isn’t the norm and often they wish they could have similar community in their area. Being a photographer can be a lonely job, so I’m thankful to have a good group of photographer friends!

Website: https://www.tpowerphoto.com/

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Image Credits
Headshot – Taken by Wendy Cox Photography, Edited by TPowerPhoto All other images – TPowerPhoto