***Flygirl Fridays***

I had the opportunity to take a course called "Flying Lessons" given by a very talented artist - Kelly Rae Roberts. It was an excellent course that covered such topics as letting go of yours fears, going after your true passion, and many other things. One of the best things about the course was, I got meet and learn about a lot of talented artists, all in on different paths, but all working towards making their dreams come true and learning to take flight. Flygirl Fridays is all about these wonderfully talented people and a little bit about them, so you can get to know them as well!

Please join me in welcoming
Tina Carlborg!

Please introduce yourself, who are you and what do you do?
My name is Tina Carlborg. I am located in San Diego, I'm a photographer and I have recently done a few family portraits shoots and am getting ready to do a high school senior portrait shoot soon. Photography is my true passion and I want to pursue it. I also crochet and have been doing that since I was 10. A few years ago I opened up a shop on Etsy, however I closed it within a year, partly because I didn't have the support or confidence back then. I recently starting crocheted items again (animal hats as of right now), but I sell them on Facebook. I can crochet pretty much anything that is requested to me.

I will be 44 on April 25th, I raise my two girls full time, as well as working as a bookkeeper full-time. Add that to my photography and crochet business endeavors, I am quite busy.

What is something that you really love, and why?
Other than my two girls, it's photography and photoshop. I have recently been learning as much as I can with photoshop to be able to process my photos to the best of my ability.

I have always loved photography. I remember getting my first polaroid camera at 10 years old. From then on, I was photographing anything I could. I took a photography glass in junior high and high school. Back then it was film photography and Iearned all about darkroom equipment and how to use it. I once wanted to have a darkroom of my own. But now, I get to have photoshop as my darkroom.

A few years ago, I was taking pictures for a girls softball team and I was commenting to a friend how much I liked photography and he suggested I follow my dream. That was the first time anyone said that to me and I realized photography was a love that I wanted to pursue. I love being able to photograph what I see and to showcase that.

What would your dream project be?
My dream project would be to be that one female photographer down on a football field, or another sports field and have my photo published in magazines, newspapers, etc.

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever received?
It came from my friend who encouraged me with pursuing my dream of photography and another friend who received one of my crocheted baby blankets.

They both said that I should follow my dream and that I should put myself out there. That I was good enough to do that.

Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from my friend, Stacy. I never thought I could do it all, and then she went and had a baby and started her own custom jewelry business on Etsy. I was like, wow, I have two girls who are older, but yet she has a newborn and she is following her dream? I can do that!

What do you think is the biggest thing holding you back?
Confidence or the lack thereof at times. There are times when I just say, "What are you doing? You can't do this!" But then I also realize that it's my inner demons trying to overcome my passion. That, and time. Working at a full-time paying job, raising two girls, volunteering, takes a lot of my time. I have to realize that I have to take baby steps and realize I'm okay with that.

What change do you think would most help your business grow?
If I had more time to get it all done. More time to promote myself. But I know that in time that will happen too.

What’s the biggest thing that you took with you from Flying Lessons?
I think the biggest thing I took with me from Flying Lessons was #1, figuring out what i wanted to pursue. I could't decide between photography, crocheting or sewing( yes I sew too). Oh, that and trying my hand at mixed media. I realized that while I know I'm a good seamstress and crocheter, photography was my passion. It was the one that I wanted to pursue the most.

And learning that there are so many others out there like me. Ones that have that inner demon. Ones that are on this journey, just like me.

I learned more about the business aspect of it too. I learned about branding, which is a big thing for me too.

Thank you so much for wanting to interview me!!!

Here are my links:
My current blog (this will got to a different website eventually):
www.tinachicky.blogspot.com
My photography website that I just created, so it's in its infant
stages right now: http://tinalouisephoto.com/
My crocheted FB business page: www.facebook.com/tinachicky
My FB photography page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/TinaLouisePhoto
My twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/tinachicky