Meet Tonya Griffin | Photographer

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

Hi Tonya, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance is very important in my world of full-time mom, full-time wife, full-time job, and full-time photographer. In October of 2020, in a year of such uncertainty and a pandemic that changed so many lives, I opened up Charming Luxe Photography, LLC. I was working from home in my law career and had just had a new baby. I was forced to learn work life balance like never before. Photography has always been a passion of mine, but the pandemic pushed me forward to open the business to have something to fall back on that I love, in the event that my job would let me go during a budget crisis. I am so happy that I made this move, because it has changed my life. The level of growth this business has bought me personally, mentally, and financially is amazing and work life balance is the key to my growth. Work life balance is managing to create equal time for work and family life and everything in between. It is never easy, however, with the right support, I have made long strides in balancing being a mom, wife, and business owner. The first thing that I have learned to do is pause. The pandemic has taught us more than ever to take a pause and evaluate our priorities. My family will always be my priority and sometimes it is necessary for us to pause and take a mental health day in order to manage work life balance. The second key is to always have a plan to keep the balance and help you move forward toward your goals. I am a planner and always have been. I utilize calendars, reminder software, to do list, and always make a plan A & B. This level of organization is crucial in maintaining work life balance. Planning helps me to feel more committed and in control, provides clarity, and keeps me motivated, focused, and productive all while helping me reach my goals. Lastly, you must create a mental and physical separation between work and home life and never combine the two. With that being said, it can be difficult with me having a photography studio and office in my home. However, on a daily basis, I manage my time that I devote to editing and delivering galleries to only a few hours a day after my children’s bedtime. We must accept that work life balance does not mean perfection and is never truly equal, but that some days take more work and some days take more play, and I believe this concept can help others create more work life balance in their daily lives.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In October of 2020, at 2am, I pressed the button to the door of opportunity on Facebook and created a business page for Charming Luxe Photography not knowing if the response was going to be positive or negative. I began to showcase the photography that I had done since my husband had purchased me a camera in 2017. I immediately started having followers and people began to contact me to book photoshoots. This was the start to my success! One of the most important lessons that I have learned is that you have to talk about your business to have a business. The more people that know about your business, the more people share their experiences and then in turn will gain you more business. I hand out business cards everywhere I go and introduce myself and tell others what I do in the community on a daily. What sets me apart from other photographers? My personality! As a photographer it is important to get the right angles and the right smiles, but it is also equally important to make the client feel comfortable enough to give their true self in their photos. What do I want the world to know about me and my brand? It doesn’t matter how many people are already doing it! Do not compare yourself to others. Create your own story and choose your own path. I have fallen in love with not only the images that I create through photography but seeing how those images make people feel is truly rewarding!

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.
In Baton Rouge, I would first hit up Another Broken Egg and get their biscuit beignets, a popeyes scrambler, and a blueberry lemondrop mimosa for breakfast! Then I would head over to Old Arsenal Park where you can walk it off and walk along the beautiful waterline and beautiful flowers and greenery. For lunch I would then head to Elsie’s Plate and Pie and try their seafood pot pie along with their strawberry pepper jelly vinaigrette salad. After lunch I would head over to Le Roche Bleu Day spa to get a massage and facial. And lastly for dinner, I would head over to Stabs Prime Steak and Seafood for their huge crabcakes, filet mignon, corn maque choux, and blueberry lemondrop cocktail!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to send a shoutout to my husband, Tristan Griffin, because I would not be where I am without his support. He is truly my backbone and pushes me to become better on a daily and never stay stagnant. He has become an employee of Charming Luxe Photography. He sets up my lighting equipment, backdrops, helps me make business decisions, and is truly my right hand.

Website: www.charmingluxephotography.com

Instagram: @charmingluxephotography

Facebook: Charming Luxe Photography

Image Credits
Image Credit: Clarence Scott Design / Photography Charming Luxe Photography