“It all comes down to perspective and as a photographer I love making those perspectives real concrete visuals.”
Tiffany is the owner of a photography business and a jewellery brand. She lives with her husband and a lovely puppy in Sydney, Australia. (Head to the Gallery to meet her and see her work!)
Alison: Hi, Tiffany! Please introduce yourself.
Tiffany: Hi I’m Tiffany, I’m from Malaysia but I’m so lucky to call France and Australia my home countries as well. I started two businesses last year, one in photography and one in jewellery design and production. I went through depression throughout my childhood and teenage years. When I was 21 my depression was so severe I came close to committing suicide a few times. The only thing that kept me on this planet at the time was my university counsellor. My weekly meetings with her slowly helped me build up confidence in making decisions and gave me a point of contact to confide in. Although there were days I wouldn’t come in, she would call and leave a voice message to check up on me.
This was my first time experiencing unconditional compassion. My visits were subsidised by the university, so it wasn’t because she was getting payments from me. My turning point was when I was hospitalised and one of my best friends stayed with me throughout my admission. Even my boyfriend at the time didn’t come to visit me. I broke up with all toxic relationships after that day; with the boyfriend at the time and with my parents. Life became much harder when I was alone, but I did not feel lonely. I felt empowered, because I was making decisions for me, and I learned to listen to how I feel. Now if something doesn’t make me feel good, I know my standards and I step away from the toxicity. Now I’m in a loving, healthy and supportive marriage and we raised a puppy in 3 different countries. My little family is my pride and joy.
Alison: You’ve been so strong. I’m truly happy that you’ve built yourself a lovely family. So, let’s get started with our topics for today. Tell me about The Traveller Series.
Tiffany: I started The Traveller Series a few months after I started my photography business. Photography wasn’t bringing me enough income to live (yet), so I wanted a safety business that I could do on the side. I started by making a pair of coin ear threaders (which I now call my Ares coin threaders). That pair sold and I used the money to get more parts, to make more. Those sold too, so I added more designs and the cycle kept repeating to where I am now (200+ sales later). I call my jewellery pieces my girls. Each one is given a name based on who and what inspires me. My business is still small and young (just under a year old) but I can see that some ladies love my girls as much as I love them! My inspiration comes from nature, and the ladies that request custom designs. When someone gets me to design something specially for them, I end up naming the design after their first names.
Alison: Why did you name your brand The Traveller Series?
Tiffany: The name The Traveller Series came from a series of poems I wrote in my early 20s. I loved the name, and I realised that when I called myself The Traveller Series Maker, it abbreviates to TTSM, which are the initials for my full Malaysian name Tiffany Teoh Shao Mei!
Alison: That’s a lovely coincidence. You mentioned that you’ve also started a photography business, could you tell us about that?
Tiffany: Photography has been one of my hobbies since I was 6! I’ve probably cycled through a dozen cameras in my lifetime. But I honestly never thought of it becoming my career. My husband is a photographer, so are a few of my friends, and they gave me so much confidence to put myself out there. I shot my first wedding as my husband’s 2nd shooter. I loved the pressure and the fast-paced environment. I like responsibility, and I like making people happy. So I guess wedding photography was perfect for me.
So far I haven’t seen ‘challenges’ as challenges in photography. Let me try to make sense of that. A rainy day can be seen as a challenge, or camera shy people can be another, but rainy days can also be beautiful, camera shy people can be really fun to work with. It all comes down to perspective and as a photographer I love making those perspectives real concrete visuals. I photographed a wedding in the Blue Mountains during the bushfires. Everyone was worried because of the smoke, but the smoke looked so beautiful with the backdrop, it really gave an elopement effect (see Lauren + Stuart on my blog). I have had people that are not keen on my ideas which I honestly don’t mind, when I work with a couple, it’s a collaboration so we both need to be happy and I always get to learn something new from my darling couples.
Alison: That’s amazing. You’re right that it is a matter of perspective. Change it a little and you can create a completely different effect. Moving on, can you share with us your experience working with other brands?
Tiffany: I actually can’t keep track of all the brands I have collaborated with, but I’m a big sustainable & ethical living advocate. If a brand uses polyester or non-recyclable plastic, or if they don’t pay fair wages to their workers, I turn them down. That’s my only deciding factor. I simply won’t promote a brand that doesn’t do the right thing for humanity or the environment. I can work with budgets but I can’t work with unfair ethics.
Alison: I really admire your moral code when it comes to brand promotion. I have heard that many influencers collaborate with brands for the sake of doing it, regardless of whether they like the products or whether the items are ethically made. We need more people like you.
The last question I have for you is related to the Australian bushfires. It broke my heart seeing your stories on Insta with the massive amount of smoke near your home. What was it like?
Tiffany: Oh my gosh, I’ve never experienced being near uncontrolled fires so closely before. Our village wasn’t affected but the fires were 6 kilometres from us. I’m so thankful I never had to experience an evacuation, but I was living each day kind of nervous as there was a possibility that we could have to take only our essentials and leave our home with nowhere to go. I met some people from our community who cut their grass and put wet towels on their doors. My husband was constantly checking the RFS (Rural Fire Service) app, too, which gives us hourly updates on the fires.
Alison: I’m so sorry you had to go through that and I’m glad you and your family are safe.
DONATE TO HELP!
Country Fire Authority (Victoria)
Via Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.
The Salvation Army.
Click here for more information about the bushfires in NSW (Bushfire Bulletin 2017-2019, provided by the NSW Rural Fire Services).
Click here to access Tiffany’s website to see her photography business and brand collaborations.
Follow her Instagram!
Her jewellery brand.
Speak Your Mind 