Today we’d like to introduce you to Tori Stauffer
Hi Tori, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m Tori, I run a full service visual marketing agency with in-house production specializing in creating scroll stopping photo and video for female founders. From social media to YouTube to websites, we do it all.
I started my photography business 14 years ago in Philadelphia. As a certified professional photographer, I was developing my craft, but I was also discovering something deeper—an intuitive gift for blending strategy with soul in visual storytelling.
In 2019, at just 37 years old, I received the diagnosis that would change everything: Triple Negative Breast Cancer. In that moment, it felt like a death sentence. But life has a way of revealing its greatest gifts through its greatest challenges. What initially seemed like the end of my story became the most profound beginning.
Cancer stripped away the façade of what I “should” be doing and forced me to confront what I truly wanted from this one precious life. It became the catalyst that propelled my family and me toward a more authentic existence—one centered around joy, purpose, and presence. This clarity led us to St. Augustine, a place that had captured my heart years earlier during my time at Flagler College.
The universe wasn’t finished testing my resolve. Shortly after reopening my studio in our new hometown, I faced a second cancer diagnosis. Yet instead of derailing me, this second battle only crystallized my purpose further. These experiences transformed my relationship with time, success, and impact—strengthening my determination to create work that truly matters.
Today, I’m the marketing strategist and brand photographer behind many of the posts you’ve double-tapped and bookmarked. I’ve been quietly transforming how women entrepreneurs speak to their dream clients—creating marketing magic that genuinely converts. My full-service visual marketing agency specializes in helping female founders develop clear, magnetic messaging paired with scroll-stopping visuals that resonate deeply with their target audiences.
Along the way, I’ve expanded my impact by offering business coaching to fellow photographers, sharing the roadmap I’ve developed through years of experience. I’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of women business owners develop marketing strategies that cut through the noise and create authentic connections.
My approach remains simple and straightforward: identify what makes you unique and clearly communicate the impact for your dream client. This philosophy guides everything from my studio work to my upcoming role co-hosting the We Rise Conference for marketing on April 25th alongside Angelica Pompy and Jac Kalaher.
Through every challenge and triumph, I’ve remained dedicated to my absolute passion—helping female visionaries tap into their magic and make a difference in the world.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey has been anything but smooth—though I’ve come to appreciate that the bumps and detours have shaped both my business and my perspective in invaluable ways.
Facing cancer twice within the span of a few years certainly qualifies as a significant roadblock. When I received my first diagnosis at 37, I pushed through treatment while maintaining my business—scheduling chemo sessions early in the week and only taking the remainder of that week to recover, then jumping right back into work the following week. In retrospect, this relentless pace was part of what contributed to my health challenges, as I was constantly pushing myself beyond reasonable limits.
The second diagnosis came at an even more precarious moment—just two weeks after I had signed my first lease for a brick and mortar studio space in St. Augustine and invested in a full buildout. This time, I had no choice but to fully step away from my business for an extended period, as I underwent a double mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction—a major surgery with a lengthy recovery. Instead of celebrating my new studio milestone, I found myself planning to shut down for 2-3 months during recovery.
Beyond the health challenges, relocating my established photography business from Philadelphia to St. Augustine meant essentially starting over. I had to rebuild my client base from scratch in a new market, redefine my services, and establish credibility in a community where I was unknown.
For years, I struggled with doing what I “should” be doing instead of what I truly wanted. This misalignment created constant friction in my business and my life. One of the most transformative shifts came when I finally released those external expectations and began listening more to my intuition. Once I made this change, things started flowing more naturally, and opportunities aligned with my authentic path began appearing with surprising frequency.
The evolution of my business focus—narrowing in on branding for female founders—was another challenging transition. Specializing meant saying “no” to certain projects and clients that had previously been my bread and butter. This shift required courage and faith that focusing on my true passion would ultimately lead to greater fulfillment and success.
Yet these struggles haven’t defined my journey—they’ve refined it. Each obstacle has clarified my purpose, strengthened my resilience, and deepened my empathy for the women entrepreneurs I now serve. The road hasn’t been smooth, but its twists and turns have led me exactly where I’m meant to be.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Tori Stauffer Photography?
At its core, my business is a full-service visual marketing agency dedicated to helping female founders develop powerful brand identities that convert their audience into clients. While photo and video is our foundation, we’ve evolved to offer comprehensive marketing solutions that go far beyond just beautiful images.
I specialize in creating strategic visual content for women entrepreneurs who are ready to elevate their presence and make a deeper impact. My approach combines scroll-stopping photography and video with intentional messaging that clearly communicates a brand’s unique value. We help our clients articulate what makes them different in crowded markets and showcase their expertise in ways that resonate with their dream clients.
What sets us apart is our dual focus on both aesthetics and strategy. Many photographers can capture beautiful images, but our expertise lies in creating visuals with purpose—images designed specifically to support business goals and drive conversions. We don’t just make our clients look good; we make their businesses perform better. Our in-house production studio allows us to maintain exceptional quality control and create customized environments that perfectly align with each client’s brand vision.
I’m most proud of how we’ve helped women entrepreneurs step fully into their power and visibility. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a client transform from feeling hesitant about being seen to confidently showcasing herself and her expertise. These visual transformations often lead to tangible business results—higher engagement, increased inquiries, and stronger client relationships.
Beyond our client work, I’ve expanded into business coaching for fellow photographers, helping them build sustainable businesses aligned with their authentic strengths. This mentorship aspect of my work allows me to multiply my impact within the industry.
What I want readers to know is that effective visual marketing isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about clarity, connection, and conversion. Whether through our photography services, marketing strategy sessions, or the upcoming We Rise Conference that I’m co-hosting on April 25th, my mission remains consistent: helping women entrepreneurs tap into their unique magic and translate it into business success. When a woman clearly communicates her value and confidently showcases her expertise, she doesn’t just build a business—she creates a legacy.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that true success comes from aligning your business with your authentic self rather than following someone else’s blueprint. My cancer diagnosis forced me to confront how much of my life and business had been built around external expectations—what I thought I “should” be doing rather than what genuinely energized me.
Over the last five years, I’ve discovered the tremendous power in trusting my intuition, specializing my services, and saying “no” to opportunities that don’t align with my core mission. When I narrowed my focus to serving female founders and creating strategic visual marketing, everything shifted. The work became more fulfilling, the impact more meaningful, and ironically, the business more successful.
Perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned that vulnerability isn’t a weakness but a superpower. Our most difficult experiences often become the foundation for our most significant contributions, and when you build from this authentic foundation, work becomes less about striving and more about flowing in the direction of your natural strengths and passions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.toristauffer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toristaufferphotography/
