I was 16 the first time I picked up a camera with the intent to capture something beautiful. I grew up right outside Philadelphia and spent most of my free time playing basketball for leagues throughout the area. My interests remained pretty one-dimensional until I took a photography class during my sophomore year in high school. As with most artists, my instructor was extremely particular and often showed genuine interest in my assignments. He pointed out qualities in my photos that I had captured unconsciously; like candid expression, emotion, and storytelling. Though he was tough on me, I realized early on that it was merely his way of encouraging me to expand my potential.
Having both urban and suburban atmospheres within my reach helped not only to diversify my social experience, but also to cultivate my own ideas of art and beauty. I would hop on the El Train and ride around the city for hours with nothing but my camera, my Discman, and my journal. It was the proverbial “heartbeat” of Philly that drew me in and held my attention without any concept of time. I enjoyed getting lost in the city and finding the most beautiful parts of ordinary people, doing ordinary things, in ordinary places.
Once I graduated, I headed to Spelman College in Atlanta to uncover the next few layers of my character. By this time, I had put down the ball and picked up the camera permanently. Typically, my college years yielded many more incredible experiences for me. I traveled to Paris for the first time, I made lifelong connections with amazing people and other artists, and I discovered what I wanted to do for the rest of my life; communicate through photography. I encountered so much support and opportunity along the way that my hobby eventually flourished into my passion.
With the completion of my B.A. in Communications, I realized that capturing images satisfied both the technical and artistic sides of my personality. I worked at UPSCALE Magazine for over 2 years and gained the professional experience I needed to turn my craft into somewhat of a livelihood. I began freelancing for other national publications and companies ranging from start-up to Fortune 500, as well as for friends and family.
Now, a large part of my dream has been realized with the creation of my company, Teka Photography, LLC. The word Teka means “to capture” in Swahili. With each click of my camera, I’m challenged to capture one moment, one emotion, and one memory. Thank you for visiting my website, I look forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
Tabia S. Parker
Teka Photography, LLC