David had spent 27 years as a blue-collar worker and corporate manager. But he wanted something new. Something challenging and meaningful. Something he could do with his family.

Maddy was about to finish high school and had always wanted to start her own business. To do what she loved and work with her family.

Around this time we realised that there wasn’t anyone in Tassie doing professional virtual tour photography. This was our opportunity to dive in and fill and a gap. But it was something most people had barely even heard of, let alone viewed as something useful for their businesses. But we knew that this was something Tassie would need and want in the future. So we (David, Grace, and daughter, Maddy) decided to give it a go. After all, nothing worth doing comes easy.

With equal parts exhilaration and trepidation, David left his stable corporate job. The three of us started the family business. Abandoning all we had known before, we set foot in an entirely new industry, a new discipline, a new mindset. We bought a camera and a fish-eye lens from a local camera store and learnt to use them. Through countless hours of research, practice, trial and error, asking advice from other photographers and creatives, David became an expert in virtual tour photography.

Maddy studied graphic design and web design in Hobart, so we could offer our clients the services they needed along with photography. And all along Grace was there to support, to encourage, to give feedback and push ahead. Sky Avenue Photography + Design was born.

Starting a small business is never easy. Everyone said it’s all about marketing and “getting your name out there.” But David, Grace and Maddy are quiet people, preferring to work hard under the radar and feeling uncomfortable talking themselves up. Other people said there was no growth potential in Tassie, that no one would see the benefits of VR in their businesses. But David, Grace and Maddy knew there were businesses out there like them – businesses that were brave enough to try something new and push ahead.

We knew what we did could help businesses do better. So we persevered. We kept showing people what we did and how it could help them, one-on-one. It was never about quantity, or quick wins, or marketing campaigns, or gimmicks and fads. It was about helping each one of our clients, one at a time, and building something just for them. Something that shows what is unique about them, what they do best. Something that lasts and is useful for years to come. We’re still working with many of our earliest clients, and those relationships are ones that we value highly.

From a newly formed family business jumping in the deep end, to experts in VR photography and design, we’ve learnt a lot over the last 10 years. We’ve never stopped growing, honing our skills, and pushing ahead.

That’s what being Tasmanian is all about – perseverance and quietly pushing ahead.