Check Out Tatjana Alvegaard’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatjana Alvegaard.

Hi Tatjana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am from Oslo, Norway. I grew up all over the world due to my mother’s job in the Norwegian foreign service. I graduated high school in Vienna, Austria, attended two years of University in Jerusalem, Israel and I came to America 30 years ago with only my orange backpack and camera to attend photography school in Santa Barbara, CA. I got my BA from Brooks Institute of Photography. When I graduated from Brooks, I did not want to return to Norway, I wanted to explore America. I was dating a guy from Kansas City and moved here in the early 90’s. I started out being a photo assistant and eventually opened my own photo studio doing commercial/editorial work. I have been working freelance my entire life and I enjoy the freedom and creativity it allows me. With the photography business ever-changing, I have also started working for Aupair Care, an agency that places aupairs, live-in childcare, with American families. I manage around 40 aupairs from around the world here in Kansas City. Photography and Cultural exchange are my passions and being able to do it for a living is fantastic. I met my husband in Kansas City and we have two daughters. Having joy and flexibility in my job allows me to also be 100% present with my family.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has not always been smooth. When I first moved to Kansas City, I hated it. I felt there was no culture here and breaking into the photography business was not easy. Kansas City 30 years ago was not the vibrant exciting city it has become. Making good friends over time and the friendliness of the Midwest really grows on you. The photography business took a big hit during the recession in 2008 and again now during Covid. I fell into the aupair job by having hosted ten aupairs through the years for our girls. When working for yourself, you need to be flexible and always be ready to try something new, I believe that is how you grow. If life was always smooth and easy, we would not discover new opportunities.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a photographer specializing in people and travel photography. Over the years, I have worked on commercial accounts like Carnival Cruise Lines and State Farm and done plenty of editorial work for magazines. I really enjoy photographing real people and getting to know their story and connecting with them through my lens. I now do mostly portrait work. I enjoy getting people to open up in front of the camera and revealing parts of themselves. I think my low-key approach and ability to listen to people set me apart from other photographers. I am very proud of my most recent work where I am collaborating with a sustainable t-shirt designer and bringing her garments to life. We use real people as models and photographs all over Kansas City and surrounding area to highlight not only her clothes but the quiet beauty of the Midwest.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I have learned that family and close friends are the most important aspects of life. Without either, this pandemic would have been much harder.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.alvegard.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tatjanaalvegard/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tatjana-Alvegaard-38295692355
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/talvegaard/

Image Credits
Tatjana Alvegaard