Meet Tyarria Duncan | Photographer

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

Hi Tyarria, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued an artistic or creative career because when I turned sixteen I asked for a Nikon camera. Little did I know in me asking for a camera, a new passion of photography would be uncovered. Even though I asked for the camera when I was sixteen, it was not until I was nineteen in college when I realized that this is something I wanted to do and I wanted to do it because there is something I add to my craft more than than an average photographer. I pursued this goal to be able to push people past their boundaries but in a healthy way. I pursued this career to see the priceless smiles of individuals who built up more confidence in themselves when they saw the final product. It’s many reason why I chose this career but those are just a few.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am most proud of how I incorporate other skills within my company/business. TJDProductions is a photography business but in the future we hope to grow and explore other creative outlets. That is what sets me apart from others to the ability to learn new formats and to present that within my work. Documenting behind the scene moments when it comes to building backdrops or even the process when I take pictures. Professionally where I am today I feel like is completely different from when I first started. In the beginning I would allow my customers to pay me how much they thought I was worth. Now, I am in a place where I have learned myself more and my company and I know that I am worth far more than what other people have attach to my business and name. It was not easy overcoming that patch when it came to getting paid and knowing my worth. I personally know that not a lot of people have the funds to get pictures done for the prices that people are offering them for so I allowed my giving heart to hinder a lot of the decisions i made when it came to my company. I want the world to know that having your own business at a young age and not having any guidance to help you make the right decisions financially and professionally is a huge struggle but as you start educating yourself and asking questions to the right people it gets better.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was in the city and I wanted to show them the best time ever, I would definitely take her to short pump to go shopping and just explore the upscale side of the city. We may not be able to afford somethings that we see but it will give us motivation to press more towards being able to live that lifestyle. Then, I would take her to either a restaurant neither of us have been to in that same exact area or in a little area in Richmond called Carytown. If she wanted to go to a place I’ve been before and is one of my all time favorite restaurants in Carytown it would have to be between Mellow Mushroom and a place called Les Crepes. Les Crepes has the best brunch food ever! Another place we would visit would be the botanical gardens and have a mini impromptu photoshoot and just enjoy the scenery and sit down and talk. Another place I would want to take her is a place called Frozay. They hands down. have the best margaritas ever! That would be a place to listen to music and just get lit and have a good time with one another. The last thing we would probably do is definitely enjoy a home cooked meal by one of my favorite cooks in my family(which is my grandma aka mama) and just talk and laugh and enjoy some quality time with my family and that would be about it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to first give the BIGGEST SHOUTOUT to God! Without Him none of this I mean absolutely nothing would be possible. I thank you for every door you’ve opened and for just being patient with me as I figure this entire career thing out. It hasn’t been easy and I know You don’t plan on cutting me any slack and I’m cool with that.

I want to secondly give a shoutout to my grandparents! Throughout everything they have always been by my side and supported every decision I have made so far in my career. I love those two old folks!

I also want to shoutout all my homies that are apart of my circle now. Y’all have supported me in ways that I never thought anyone outside of my grandparents would do. You guys have watched me through this journey and literally watching me as I build from the ground on up. So, HUGE shoutout to yall!

I have a few more people to thank also. I want to thank my mom and dad for creating a phenomenal young woman, without either of you I would not even be here doing half of the things that I’m doing right now so thank you for the connection! Smomma, Meemaw, Pastor thank you for always seeing past what I could see and encouraging me to just hang in there and that even though there is a bigger picture, there are smaller pieces that add up to make it. I also want to add thank you for always telling me what I need to hear not what I want to hear.

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