Tanya Chesterton Smith runs a boutique photography studio from her home office, specialising in wedding, portrait and corporate photography. As Chesterton Smith Photography is about to celebrate its 14th birthday, who better to offer work-at-homers some sage advice than our girl, Tanya.
My office has gone through a few style changes over the years and has grown with me and my second love of interior design (love all things vintage and handmade.) First home: My office was a spare bedroom and I am embarrassed to say client seating consisted of old deck chairs with ’poor student’ style decor.
Second home: We built our current home in Coolum Beach nine years ago and I was able to specify the size and placement for my Home Studio. I wanted the Studio to be a little separate from our home so the Studio is next to the entrance with a lovely little foyer and our home is upstairs.
I love the eclectic style of my Home Studio right now. I wanted the space to reflect a little of my personality and have been gifted or made most of the furniture. The desk is a door from my Grandparents home and my husband made the tressel legs. I have collected cameras from a young age and they are displayed alongside my albums, candles, framed photographs and vintage collectables.
5 things I can’t live without:
1. Apple
Love my iMac, iPhone and iPad.
2. Refreshments & Slippers
Great Chai and Coffee for my little breaks ‘upstairs’ and I have a whole pantry/fridge to raid when I am hungry. Slippers (nanna style) are my chosen footwear for the Home Studio but I do hide them when clients call in.
2. Spotify
Love listening to music while I edit and design.
3. Google Calendar
Keeps my work and life organised.
4. To Do Lists
The old fashioned written kind. Love running my pen through a completed task.
5. Lovely Clients
They find me. How lucky is that! Gorgeous clients contact me to photograph their most important life events. I love hearing their stories and I get to see a lot of LOVE. Just like the song I am there with my camera – “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage.”
Working from home has provided so many benefits and I love the freedom it provides for me and my family. I work school hours around my two children, Ellia and Reilly, and only work at night if I have editing or album design to complete. Weddings fill my weekends, but I choose to photograph 30-40 weddings per year providing me with a great work/life balance. I love my work but I also love to spend time at the beach, going camping, dining out and time with my family and friends.
