Daily Inspiration: Meet Tanya Boggs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Boggs.

Hi Tanya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 1988, I graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts as a dancer, fully believing that path was my future. Dance had shaped my discipline, my identity, and the way I understood my body in the world. After a year at NYU, I came to a quiet but undeniable truth: it no longer fit. Walking away was not easy. It meant releasing a dream I had worked my entire young life to earn. Instead of forcing myself to stay, I chose to listen.

I gave myself permission to explore what else might be possible, enrolling in one class at a time, simply to see what sparked something real. That is where I found photography. It was not just a new medium. It was a way of seeing, of telling the truth, and of claiming my voice in a different form. It allowed me to step into a life I was actively choosing, not one I felt obligated to fulfill. That decision began a journey I am still on today. And of course, I still dance. That part of me will never go away.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I learned quickly that nothing about this path would be smooth. The transition was hard at times, and I was still very young, trying to navigate adulthood, independence, and uncertainty all at once. One of the first realities I faced was figuring out how to return to school without financial support from my parents and at an age when traditional aid was no longer available.

I put together a portfolio and applied to the Savannah College of Art and Design. When I was accepted, I packed up and moved, determined to keep going. Going back to school was an incredible experience and confirmed that I was exactly where I was meant to be. Two years in, however, my life shifted again. I found out I was pregnant, and because I could not be around photographic chemicals, I was forced to put my education on hold. I chose to stay home during my child’s first year, a decision that felt deeply important to me, even as it delayed my plans.

During that two-year period, I moved to Charleston to be closer to my best friend from high school and the support system I needed. From there, I returned to finish my final two years of school, already clear about my next goal. I knew I wanted to pursue my MFA and eventually teach at the college level. Even when the timeline shifted, the vision never did.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I help women be seen clearly and intentionally, often at moments when everything is changing. My work blends personal branding and portrait photography, but at its core, it is about alignment. Alignment between who you are, what you stand for, and how the world experiences you.

Clients often come to me feeling invisible, uncertain, or out of sync with the image they are projecting. Before a camera is ever lifted, we slow down. I listen. I ask the right questions. Together, we define what you want to communicate and why it matters. This process creates trust, clarity, and consent, so that when we photograph, you are not performing. You are choosing how you are seen.

I am known for images that feel grounded, confident, and real. They resonate because they are designed with intention. Every detail, from expression to posture to environment, is considered to support the message you want to send. The result is imagery that feels natural to you and credible to the people you want to reach.

What I am most proud of is how often my work becomes a turning point. Clients tell me the images change how they show up, how they speak about their work, and how others respond to them. The photographs do more than capture a moment; they create momentum.

What sets me apart is my ability to see beyond the surface and guide clients toward clarity. My background in the arts and years of working with women in transition allow me to design experiences that feel both deeply personal and strategically sound. You are never pushed into an image that does not feel true. Instead, you are supported in stepping into one that feels aligned, powerful, and unmistakably yours.

What makes you happy?
traveling somewhere unfamiliar, hiking, riding motorcycles, or sharing meaningful time with people I love, especially my daughter. Each of these experiences pulls me out of my head and back into my body.
They ground me and remind me to stay present, to trust myself, and to meet life with curiosity instead of fear. They reconnect me to movement, gratitude, and the quiet joy of being fully alive in each moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tanyaboggs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyaboggsphoto and www.instagram.com/theyouareherepodcast
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyaboggsphotographer/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@You_Are_Here_Podcast
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/theyouareherepodcast

Image Credits
n/a ©TanyaBoggsPhotography