Meet Tori Enyart | Freelance Creative and Digital Guru

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tori Enyart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tori, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I graduated last May as a self-taught photographer with a passion for and degree in Music Business from the University of Colorado Denver. I had a really hard time finding full-time work. Graduating during the middle of a pandemic doesn’t necessarily set you up for success with entering the workforce. Maybe more importantly though, I was super turned off by the idea of working for a large corporate company, and I had always had the desire to blaze my own trail so to speak, and find a way to be a full-time creative that worked for themselves. I grew up in a family of small business people. My dad was always a wearer of many hats, owning and operating multiple small businesses over the years and I always just saw that as normal. I was lucky enough to be instilled with the values of running your own show, being passionate about what you do, and learning as much as you can to grow that passion and give it strong legs to stand upon. Recently, my mom also started her own small business, and seeing her be an absolute femme powerhouse of passion, hard work, and bravery in a male dominated industry (automotive industry) through that process, really helped to lock all of those things in. I feel lucky to have always had the belief that running your own small business is possible, and that hard work and drive pay off.

From not being able to find a place in the pandemic workforce, to being raised with a background in small business, and having a passion for photography and creative endeavors, it all made for the perfect storm. I recently set myself up as an LLC and dedicated my time to starting my own freelance business, not just running a side hustle. I am SO grateful to be where I am now and feel strongly that starting my own business was the best thing I could do for myself. I didn’t want to take a job that I didn’t feel strongly about just to settle for the sake of having a job, but I didn’t really want to wait around for the perfect job to align itself either. I feel very strongly that I don’t ever want my work to feel like work. I want my work to be exciting every day, something that gets me out of bed with motivation and drive, and brings me joy in every moment. I also find that I have SO many passions and I LOVE being able to wear a variety of different hats. I didn’t want to be siloed into only doing one line of work because while photography has quickly become my main love over the past three years, I still want the opportunity to be in love with managing artists, planning festivals, and exploring all creative avenues like I have done in the past. So starting my own business where I could continue to learn, grow, explore and be a conduit for creativity to flow freely through was the best and only option.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My main creative endeavor over the past three years (though there have been many) has been photography. Being somebody who has a large variety of passions including the outdoors, music, people, and communities, photography has been a medium that allows me to explore all of those. The thing that excites me most about my work is the opportunity I have to capture authentic moments and bring a sense of deeply genuine storytelling. It’s a way to connect with people and places that enables me to really savor what’s going on and bring creativity to my experiences. To me, it feels like an ability to freeze brief moments in time to reflect and reminisce on later whether that takes the form of a concert, a beautiful hike in the mountains, or just a beautiful spring day at the park. I’m proud of my ability and grateful for the opportunity to create stories through imagery that withstand the test of time.

As a photographer in a world of tech and content consumption that is moving incredibly fast, I am constantly evolving, learning, and growing. It has taken me almost three years to build up the courage and vulnerability to put myself out there and pursue photography as a career. I think one of the most challenging parts about it has been accepting the possibility of failure. As a perfectionist and somebody who always aims to achieve at a high level, the thought of not being successful scares the living daylights out of me and often holds me back from pursuing things that are new, big, or scary. But I recently have come to the realization that failure is ALWAYS going to be a possibility and that holding out on my dreams because of that is holding myself back from everything I could have to gain. I still struggle with this on a daily basis, every time I create something new to share with the world. But really trying to focus on my mission statement of telling stories and my joy of creating and capturing keeps me moving forward. I suppose I want the world to know that I’m NOT perfect. But I’m here to show up, try my best, learn, grow, and make connections along the way. It’s worth it to be vulnerable!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This question excites me because I myself have only been in Denver for the past 3 years, it’s been a constant exploration and adventure getting to know the place, and I’m stoked to be able to share that with somebody! I think to make this digestible I’ll break it down into a few categories!

Where to Eat – foodies UNITE!

The French Press – there’s a few of them scattered around and the menu ROCKS
Denver Milk Market – options for everybody, awesome ambiance
Machete Taco – by far my FAVORITE spot in town for tacos and Latin cuisine

Where to Spend your Money – local brands and businesses I have fallen in LOVE with

Lawrence and Larimer – Black Owned and Operated, L&L have some wicked apparel and curated products that are designed in-house. If you get a chance to talk to the owners, don’t miss that opportunity, some of the coolest people I know!
*more on them below*
Old South Pearl Street Farmer’s Market. – This is my favorite place to go every Sunday during the warmer months. There’s a great showing of local farmers, kombucha brewers, florists, and bakers that not only fill out my pantry but bring me so much joy.
Tattered Cover – I could get lost in this book store forever! The one on Colfax is by far my favorite. They feature so many great authors and have great staff picks!

Where to Get Outside – GO TO THE MOUNTAINS!

Dakota Ridge – This is one of my favorite hikes close to the city! It’s totally doable for beginners and lends itself to some really nice views of the front range and Red Rocks.
Grays Peak Trailhead – Grays and Torreys are some of the closest 14ers to Denver and while it’s a little bit of a drive (1.5 hours), the views are ABSOLUTELY worth it. In fact, you don’t even need to summit or complete the majority of the hike to take it all in. The first 2 miles are actually my favorite part, you get fully immersed in the alpine landscape and have a beautiful view of Grey’s and Torreys the whole time. 4WD is recommended to get to the trailhead though and altitude sickness is always something to consider! But lots of water and you should be fine!
Denver Botanic Gardens – If you’re looking for something a little more low-key, the botanic gardens are such a treat! Not to mention, Cheesman Park is right next door and a great place to chill!

Where to Hang Out – Places to go When You’ve Got Time to Kill

South Broadway – this will forever be my favorite district of Denver! There are SO many great thrift shops (Goldmine, Scout, Lovely Vintage) and local businesses on the strip, not to mention awesome food, local bars, and great people!
Movement Climbing and Fitness – If you’ve ever wanted to try rock climbing, this is the place to do it! The location in RiNo is a great facility for beginners and you can head next door to Improper City for brew afterward! This place is my second home to the location in Baker!
The Mercury Cafe – the atmosphere in this place is unmatched! Whether you’re looking for a place to grab a coffee/beer and catch up or a cool place to wear something trendy and see some live music, this place does it all!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would really like to talk a little bit more about JC and Keyonna, the owners of Lawrence and Larimer on Colfax.  I mentioned earlier that if you’re looking for a great local shop to support, L&L is it.  Not only do JC and Keyonna run a beautiful storefront with awesome merch, the community focused and trail-blazer attitude they instill into their business is unmatched.  From design conception, to screen printing and candle making, they do most everything in house.  Furthermore, they have shown up time and time again for the Black community here in Denver, and nationally by not only providing clothing with messages that count, but also by incubating creatives and community events through their space.  Back in July, some friends and I put together a small livestream music festival to raise money for the Denver chapter of Black Lives Matter.  With little turnaround time and no location to host the festival, Keyonna and JC stepped in with an enthusiastic offer to get involved and host the festival at their storefront.  They graciously donated their space, time, and helped us to make t-shirts to raise money.  They brought so much to that event, and to that community and were a HUGE part in making it not only a success, but something that really had the ability to foster a union of people and culture in a safe and uplifting space.  Keyonna and JC are two incredible people who I believe are culture leaders here in Denver, and continue to inspire me on a daily basis!  I’m really grateful for them and the opportunity I have had to connect with them!

Website: https://www.torienyartmedia.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torienyart/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-enyart-595052155