20/20: TSR Photography

Close Ups & Captures- Experience the expose of TSR’s elegance.

Meet Tonya “Tee” Robinson of TSR Photography. A St. Louis based photographer of prestige photogenic skills. Dedicated to excellence in visual aesthetics, this capture queen knows what “passion for the pose” looks like. Tap in as I chat with the visual artist about her hometown, humble beginnings, and hot new works on the horizon.

Clarksdale, MS native artist Tonya “Tee” Robinson, grew up in the outskirts of Memphis in an education prioritized family. “I moved to St. Louis in the early 2000’s after grad school. I was recruited by May Department Stores Company right after college.” The University of Southern Mississippi (USM-Hattiesburg) and University of Memphis (Memphis) alum majored in fashion, entering the visual art world with an eye for great style and angles.

“Being poor and black in the south, my mom and dad were like first generation college grads.”, shares Tee. “So working and doing something in the arts wasn’t really an option for them. My mom was a nurse, and my dad was a high school English teacher. So for them it was about going to college and being able to support yourself.” Due to this, Tee felt “limited” in her creativity in her early years. “I didn’t feel like I had a lot of options to do anything creative until I got on my own and was stable.” Robinson began to spread her wings and creative juice. The artist began making jewelry, sketching, sewing, and most definitely…photography.

“Photography has always been a passion of mine. I started as a collector. I was like the family historian.”, Tonya recalls. “I was always in my grandma’s family albums and the drawers in her bedside table just pulling out pictures and just building these timelines. I would take the photos and restore them, frame them, and give them as gifts. Photography is saving moments in time.” Her love for art and photography was deeply inspired by her grandmother’s strong love and sacrifice. “While my parents were focused on providing for us, my grandma was right across the street. She was the one who took care of us. She was an artist in my regard in just the way she always made something out of nothing. She would tell someone there was no food in the house and then call you to the table for a full course meal. She always found a way. My sister and I didn’t know we were “poor” because we never went without.”

Just a few years ago, Tee found her passion for shooting her shots. “I found this $100 camera on Facebook Marketplace.”, explains the artist. “Maybe a little before the pandemic. That was when I really had time. I started walking around taking photos. It just kind of grew from there.” The photographer specializes in fashion, editorial, landscape and architectural photography.

“I do the beauty/fashion that I love just because that was my undergrad major. I love being able to take a model and a scene and making it look like it’s out of a magazine.”, she says. Tee also works with top seller magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. “On the other side, I am a huge street photography fan. I loved Gordon Parks. My grandma always made sure we had Life and Jet magazines, so that we can see people that looked like us. So that we can see those African-American moments captured.” Robinson enjoys capturing unique buildings and architecture such as churches and cathedrals, and street views such as alleys, tunnels and doorways. “I love to get my camera and just go out on a Saturday morning. No models scheduled. Just walk the streets of St. Louis and just look for inspiration.”

Currently, Tonya is gearing for new series in the works. “I’m working on a “red door” series right now.”, confirms Tee. “Also, an alley and church series.” The accomplished photographer also plans to pursue her craft full time. “I don’t want to be one of those people who work for “the man” ’til they get so sick they HAVE to retire. I want to do my art and wake up every day and just know, “it’s a creative day.” Just using all of my creative juices to create something that will be out in the world for decades to come.”