I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Her Campus alumni Natalie Tyler and interview her for this exciting article.
Natalie graduated from Winona State in May and has been pursuing her photography business, Natalie Tyler Photography, ever since. During her time at WSU, Natalie was a member of Her Campus and worked on the social media team. I had the honor of working under her last spring as assistant social media director. During our conversation, Natalie and I discussed her transition to post-grad life, future goals, and advice for underclassmen and future Her Campus members.
Q: You’re nearly six months post-grad. How have you adjusted during this transition period? What has been hard or easy about it?
A: I think I am doing okay. Graduating was incredible, and I’m not sure if it felt so hyped because it was graduation or because we got to walking during a pandemic and none of my peers or friends thought we would be able to. Then, since summer was right after, everything felt normal––like I was going back in the fall. I had a job opportunity off the bat from graduating: photographing weddings with a girl I began working with during COVID quarantine.
It did not really hit until once the summer was over. I watched from social media as Winona’s campus life started again. This was a bit harder for me to know Winona was in a different world, and it was continuing without me. I am happy to see that students are face-to-face for classes again because I, personally, felt so isolated in my senior year. People who know me know I am an actual social butterfly, and I love to be surrounded by my friends. I’m just happy I got to walk for graduation.
Personally, what has been hard for me was the pressure I felt moving back home. My plan had been to save up and figure out what I was doing next. There’s obviously pressure coming from your family, your peers, and truly, yourself internally. I struggle with where I mentally thought I’d be already. By now, I wanted to have a stable job (major or photography related), an apartment of my own, and a car. However, I live at home and I share a car. I stopped looking for jobs because photography picked up and I’m going to see how long that wave goes!
In the end, it would be cool to photograph weddings or freelance full time! I get a lot of questions about taxes, credit cards, cars in similar tones as when people ask, “Oh, do you have a boyfriend now?” And the answer to that is no.
I’ve had a lot going on in my life since I left Winona. I have not driven since my car accident over two years ago and now I drive every day again like it never happened, which I am very proud of.
Q: Since graduating you’ve been pursuing your photography business. What has been the best part about that?
A: I have learned so much now that I have been pushing myself more on my business and homework is no longer a reason to procrastinate. While I have been second photographing with Amber Callen in the last two years, things really changed for me when I switched my mindset. I woke up once and I thought, This is my full-time job and my only job. I got three inquiries that week, I am not even kidding.
Every day I learn that I can photograph full-time and it’s amazing. There can never be enough photographers or videographers––this industry is timeless and I love it. My favorite part is going to or leaving a wedding and thinking, I finished my “shift.” It’s not even a shift––it’s fun!
I don’t feel miserable––I love my job and work. I’m also a sucker for rom-com, so being around weddings and couples was meant for me. I guess I love third-wheeling!
Q: How has your experience in Her Campus prepared you for your professional life?
A: Sadly, I haven’t been writing since I life HC, which breaks my heart to say. I’ve written journals and affirmations since, but if I took anything away from Her Campus so far, it’s teams and social media.
I’ve met so many incredible artists in the photography industry, and when you work with someone new, there is always a professional standard. But like Her Campus, the position is fun. There is similar welcoming energy while working with a team or having an assistant with you that not only makes it less stressful, but adds a new excitement into the job. In addition, I have taken a lot of the things I taught myself working on Winona’s Her Campus social media and translated them into my own business.
Q: What are you future plans and goals? Do you mainly focus on the long-term or short-term?
A: I want to work more on focusing on my short-term goals, but in the end, I tend to look at long-term goals. As of now, I’m truly riding the waves. I love the saying, “Whatever happens, happens.” I am second photographing weddings, and recently I was hired as another second photographer and associate, which just means more photo opportunities!
Q: Do you have any advice for seniors who are about to go out into the professional world?
A: Start early if you need to apply for a job––start as soon as you can! Applying to full-time jobs becomes an actual job itself, and I recommend at that time to still work somewhere––even at your local Target!
Q: What do you miss most about Her Campus?
A: I miss having a group of girls I know have my back and reading articles that allowed me to read some parts of their lives. I also miss noticing habits in some of their writing and being able to tell by just reading it who wrote it. Truthfully, I could go on and on because I miss it a lot.
Q: What is your advice for incoming Her Campus members?
A: WRITE!!! Not just for incoming members, but to everyone: write as much as possible! It is so easy to procrastinate in college because there is so much to do. I really wish I had a bigger portfolio and that I wrote more or applied myself more.
In addition, read all other members’ articles! I will admit sometimes I wouldn’t read all the articles while editing, and I regret that because I could’ve been a much better proofreader than I am.
Natalie, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to help me write this article. On behalf of myself and the rest of the Her Campus Winona team, I want to wish you the best of luck in your future!