Life Through the Lens

Tim Caver has created a path that merges his passion for portraits with business. Tim Caver Photography was born after he bought a camera during his honeymoon and decided to leverage his graphic design and videography background to kickstart his photography career. “I was able to incorporate all the things that I was used to doing for fun into what my clients needed.”

Caver fearlessly ventured into uncharted territory, not allowing the pursuit of a new business to stop his life. While Caver and his wife were still able to become homeowners and maintain some normalcy as he built his business, he graciously credits his wife for providing stability for them as he pursued his freelance journey.

“It's been a struggle to find that balance. I've had good years of entrepreneurship where I was really doing well, and then there are times when I am struggling. At the end of the day, as long as I have a roof over my head, I'm working as hard as I can and I'm doing my best, I feel confident that things will fall into place.”

Regarding business support, he says, “It's almost like I'm a one-man band, but I plan to hire people. I want to bring people on so that they can do what they love, too.” Launching a business can be challenging when done alone. Thankfully, organizations like State Farm can offer local agent support to help small business owners like Caver navigate the process with ease. Through organizations like State Farm® and their local agents, the community has a fellow small business owner to help individuals like Caver navigate the process of launching a business.

He credits social media and AI with helping him run the business daily. In addition, the village of people that Caver has incorporated himself within Atlanta has allowed him to be poured into creatively and, in turn, share knowledge. “My cup is overflowing with knowledge, advice and connections, and I feel like it's my purpose to keep that going.”

Caver has been consistently sowing the seeds of his business through his unwavering dedication to uplifting Black youth: many of his clients are in the education or non-profit space. His work with the United Negro College Fund and other companies has allowed him to work with aspiring creatives like himself.

For the future, Caver has begun passing the baton to mentees across the country, providing them with camera equipment as he sees their development grow. “I’m creating pathways for kids that were scared to do the things that they wanted to do…like I was.”

His commitment to their growth and development not only enriches their lives but also lays a strong foundation for his own business. One of the biggest takeaways Caver has when it comes to getting started in business as an artist is time management and being present. He explains that he does not want to feel as if he’s wasted a lot of time prepping for work and not being in the moment to enjoy it.