Today we’d like to introduce you to Teri Hofford.
Hi Teri, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was always interested in photography but growing up in a small town and on a farm, I was told that creative jobs are not a thing – they make great hobbies instead. So I set course to be a teacher and after teaching English in Busan, South Korea I realized I did NOT want to do that, but during that time I was incredibly lonely and so I started taking self-portraits in my foreign environment. As a result of continual practice, by the time I moved back to Canada, I realized I could do photography part-time while I worked other jobs and so I embarked on doing weddings and family photography. It wasn’t long until I realized that that wasn’t really for me either – and I knew I wanted to talk about something important to me: the lack of body diversity in media. Suddenly, the creatives around me sounded like my parents did when I was younger: boudoir photography isn’t a JOB – you need to make money from weddings. But this time I didn’t listen – I did a project to show that there isn’t one specific body type and as a result, I received messages from the subjects that told me how much more confident they were after that one tiny photoshoot and I knew that that is exactly where I needed to be. I threw myself into boudoir/intimate photography to help show bodies that looked like mine, and eventually, ones that didn’t look like mine. I made it my mission to diversify the media we saw online and in print and was one of the first photographers to start showcasing fat bodies when not many other people were. Looking back, I realize the passion and purpose overrode any fears or hesitations I had. I wanted younger generations to be able to see themselves represented and I knew that start with the mothers I worked with.
From there, I was hearing stories from women of all shapes and sizes about how they disliked their bodies and that made me realize that body image couldn’t be about the body if they ALL hated themselves – so I started researching the psychology behind body image and mindset, eventually becoming certified in Applied Positive Psychology to be able to help my clients beyond just a photoshoot.
This has brought me to now, where I educate other creatives on the importance of understanding how body image biases and beliefs can impact our work and how we can be part of the solution or part of the problem. Oddly enough, I did end up being a teacher – just in a different way than expected.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh lord no. Challenging and disrupting an industry is hardwork and there have been moments when my ego was definitely called into question – but through that I have learned that if I keep my head down and focus on the people that want a message like mine, I will be the beacon in the dark for them. Personally, I also tied my self-worth to my work and as a result, found myself chronically stressed and burnt out to the point that my body started to shut down – coming back from that to find balance has been difficult. While I was making a lot of money, I was VERY unfulfilled and so I had to do a lot of inner work around that.
Logistically, I think any profession comes with its challenges – every year my contract gets a little longer, my boundaries get a little more forceful, and my understanding of myself becomes a little more clearer.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a photographer, author, and educator who specializes in empowerment photography. I photograph others to help them see their bodies differently and I use my self-portraits as a form of activism to show up in spaces where bodies like mine are usually not shown, doing things that bodies like mine aren’t usually seen doing. I am really proud of the impact I have made in my industry for advocating and educating folks on breaking down belief systems that are harmful to them and their clients.
What sets me apart is probably my ability to override fear with purpose. I don’t stop to really think about what people might say or think badly about me, instead I focus on showing up for those that need me – what will stay the same if I don’t take a risk? If I have the opportunity to affect change, why wouldn’t I take it?
I’m also told I’m a disrupter and comfortable with change which means once I am satisfied with the progress made in one area, I will seek out another area to start challenging it – all for the betterment of body diversity. I no longer tie myself to one way of existing and when the call comes, I’m okay to transition to another line of work, learning a new medium, or sharing my message through different methods.
What does success mean to you?
If you asked me five years ago, I would say making X amount of money, having X amount of clients, etc. but after having achieved those things and still feeling like I wasn’t good enough, I realized I had to get clear on what success meant to me and being okay with the fact that it might change.
So, right now, success to me means being able to spend time with my nieces and nephews, having the freedom to travel where and when I want, and being able to make enough financially that I can continue to do work I love without feeling like I HAVE to do it or else I won’t survive. I think I’m doing an okay job of this right now, but I also know it’s a balancing act – one that I have to keep my eye on all the time to ensure I am not falling one way too much.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.terihofford.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/terihofford
- Facebook: facebook.com/terihoffordsheher
- Twitter: twitter.com/terihofford
- Youtube: youtube.com/terihofford
