There’s a flicker of light, a little zoom and—snap—a moment is captured in time. Photographer Tate Tullier not only is skilled at this repertoire, he is highly sought for it. But Tullier doesn’t just take stunning photographs; he does so without the ability of hearing the snap as the camera lens freezes an image in time. Tullier, who was born deaf, doesn’t let it get in the way of his work. “I never have an interpreter when I work,” he says. “Basically, people are comfortable once they meet me and realize they don’t need to be intimidated at all by my deafness.”
Tullier’s work has landed him a full docket. His love affair with photography started back in 1990 when People magazine released their first “50 Most Beautiful People” issue. “I loved the fact that there were 50 different people and diverse approaches [to how] the photographs were taken.”
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After a short stint as a college recruiter, Tullier made the leap and began working as a photographer full-time, first through an internship at New York-based Mixed Greens, an art gallery. Later, he discovered the joy of shooting weddings and portraits through his own business.
It didn’t take long for that business to take off. Tullier moved back to Baton Rouge and began building a large clientele. It’s now something he has to learn to manage so that he can maintain personal time and time to pursue photography as an art. “I’m always putting my clients first and my health last,” he laughs. But Tullier says he somehow manages with the support of his wife and friends.
Still, he doesn’t just shoot for himself. Tullier’s passion and gracious nature extends beyond his clients to the community. After winning the Trailblazer of the Year award from Purple Communication, Tullier donated the $10,000 award to the Louisiana School for the Deaf. He says it’s a newfound passion that he wants to further. Who knows? Maybe he’ll inspire other young artists to remember that all you need to take a photo is a good eye.
Age: 31
What is your best business advice? “Do it. Dream bigger. If you don’t dream at all, you won’t do anything.”
Click here for the complete list of 2009's Forty Under 40 winners.
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