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

Hi Thomas, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
From my perspective, current society defines success in terms of wealth, notoriety, and influence. While these metrics may be a goal for certain kinds of accomplishment, I think they can skew our personal ideas of success. The idea that only people like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, or Warren Buffet are the benchmark for success is misplaced. The situations and opportunities that people like this have had are one in a million, absolutely no discredit to their hard work and passion, and the evident truth is that not everyone is presented with these opportunities.

I think success is defined in many different ways, unique to each person, For someone struggling with depression, success could be as simple as getting out of bed or cooking a meal. Likewise, for an immigrant, it could be earning enough to send home to their family. My point here is that success is not dependent on outside metrics, it is rather a relative perspective to our own lives and challenges. Don’t let others define your success or lack thereof, we all have the capacity to be successful and live the lives we find for ourselves. Work hard, be patient, be smart, love, and don’t forget to find who YOU are, I think these are the keys to success.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Right now I wouldn’t consider myself a professional, just someone who has taken a keen interest in some hobbies. I am working towards turning it into a way to share my love of photography with people and possibly make some money along the way. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to learn the conventions and the basics but don’t let that be a box for you to stay in. Sometimes throwing conventions out the window can produce amazing things. As far as my photography goes, my goal is always to showcase the subject and help the image bring it to life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Let’s start with restaurants, as I have worked in my fair share of kitchens. Definitely at the top of the list are places like Ticonderoga Club, Miller Union(I am an alumnus, myself), and Grindhouse, some of the big ATL staples. Some smaller off-the-beaten-path places would be Circle Sushi, Canton house for dim sum, and Huaraches Veloz. Other than that, I am always up for a wild card and trying something new! Oh, I definitely can’t forget about Your Dekalb Farmers Market and Buford Hwy Farmers Market, must-sees. Otherwise, it would totally depend on the person, I think there is plenty to do and see in and around Atlanta, for almost everyone.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I think everyone that I’ve come into contact with has played a role in my story. A longtime mantra of mine is “Everyone has something to teach you, sometime what to do and sometimes what not to do.” Probably one of the biggest people I have to pay homage to is my mom, she’s given me so many tools to get where I want to go in life, and that to me has immeasurable value. After that, there are way too many to name.

Contact info:

Website: https://tmphotoatl.myportfolio.com/

tmphotoatl.myportfolio.com

Instagram: @tm.photo.atl

Image Credits
headshot from IG: @yks.media

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