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

Hi Josie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I didn’t have much of a choice but to figure out what I could do with my skills. I just finished chemo and radiation, lost my 9-5 job with medical bills and moved to a new state. I was not business savvy and did what I could charging barely anything at the time. I knew after the second year that something had to change.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I always say… “Nothing easy became great, and nothing easy lasts”. Th bggest challenge is really overcoming the fears and doubts I had within. Whether I was good enough to someone else. The biggest lesson I learned was to not let what other’s say bother me.. it’s all just noise. The true outcome was dedicating all my time and evergy into building my business foundation and only focus on productivity.

I’d like everyone to know that no one starts at the top, but if you have the will to achieve something then you have all the powers to do so within your hands. Don’t let fear and excuses stop you because we all have equal amounts of potential.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the best state where I’m surrounded by gorgeous scenery everywhere! I would definitely take us to some food carts in Portland to try all the cuisine options and then a hike to the waterfalls. We also have the best craft beer in town, so of course that would not be missed!

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?
I actually owe a lot of this due to my Facebook Group: Newborn hotographer Secrets where everyone appreciated the craft of newborn photography and got to know so many other wonderful business owners along the way.

Website: https://sunnymelon.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y7At886uBmBxDnRc0uzcA

Other: https://sunnymelongoodies.com

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.