Meet Toni Lee | Photographer

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

Hi Toni, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have always loved the arts! I was very creative as a child and knew I would pursue something in the arts. Choosing an artistic career for me stemmed from passion, self-expression and my desire to impact the world!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It’s crazy how I began photography. A few years before I started shooting I taught myself how to reupholster furniture which I really loved! During that time I was a stay at home mother of 2, then came number 3 and much later number 4. Upholstery became very difficult for me to do freely with children. But during that time my husband bought me a camera because I wanted to get some professional looking shots of my work. So after I stopped I decided to stick with photography but my subject changed to my children. I documented so much of their childhood. Transitioning from a stay-at-home mom to a photographer required combination of passion, perseverance and adaptability. I had to find time for my creativity. I had to find moments between my responsibilities to explore photography starting with capturing everyday moments of family life. These moments helped me refine my skills and develop an eye for detail. My skills grew and over time my work got attention leading to small projects and jobs. As my portfolio expanded and my confidence grew I decided to take photography more seriously as a profession. Throughout this journey I had to find balance between motherhood and growing my photography career gradually shifting from stay-at-home mother to a professional photographer while maintaining my personal life.

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.
I live in McDonough, Ga just about 35 minutes south of Atlanta. We would definitely head to Atlanta! My best friend loves food and a good vibe that’s aesthetically pleasing lol. We would visit all the good brunch spots (she’s loves brunch) Breakfast Club, Breakfast at Barney’s, 5Church. Atlanta has the best aquarium so you have to make late morning early afternoon trip to the aquarium. Lunch at Ponce City Market. A night out for dinner at Two Urban Licks. The Optimist. Drinks and dancing in Midtown. There is just so much to do in Atlanta. The options are endless!

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?
My mother played a pivotal role in nurturing my passion for the arts. She was a photographer. I remember she had a dark room in the back of our house just off of the kitchen. I was surrounded by art in our home from Romare Bearden to Ellis Wilson and our next door neighbor Mr. Hugh Harrell. Her influence through her love for art provided me with the encouragement and inspiration to explore my creative potential. I believe this early exposure, combined with her support set the foundation for my success.

Website: https://www.tonijenifer.com

Instagram: @bytonijenifer

Twitter: @tonijenifer

Image Credits
Lalah Hathaway (images 1-3),
Greenwood Rye Band (images 4-5)
Griffin High and Spaulding High School (images 6-8)