Hello I’m Tairae, the founder, creative director, and photographer at 4Sure Studios. My adventure in media started with a dream of making videos, but it quickly morphed into a passion for photography.
When I first got my camera, I discovered why people study photography in school, it’s an intricate craft. I found photos were easier to manage than videos, so I started shooting pictures to figure out the basics. My early shots were pretty bad, as expected. Most of them were captured at clubs and bars with friends, learning the ropes in real-life events.
As my photos got better, I started getting paid shoots around Illinois State University. Such as Concerts, SNU Fest, Bar Crawls, even some graduation shoots. These events were more than just photo opportunities, they were networking goldmines. Every event was a new opportunity to connect with people, share my work, and grow my reputation. One connection led to another, and soon I was in South Carolina shooting the Voyage Music Festival, featuring artists like Khalid, Teddy Swims, Mike, Two Friends, and more. It was awesome shooting the artists on stage but the real magic was backstage. Seeing fans meet their idols and being part of those special moments was incredibly rewarding and eye-opening. Capturing meet-and-greets, and being able to connect with the artists and their teams was the best part. This experience was pivotal in shaping my understanding of media creation for large-scale events.
After my eyes were opened to the scale of media creation in today's world, I set my sights on Chicago. The city amplifies everything—more people, more events, more opportunities. In addition to the connections I already had in Chicago. I was introduced to Pie, an app that makes plans like magic. This was a playground for me, and event photography was the game. From simple hangouts to networking events and parties, Pie became a huge part of my growth in Chicago. I delved into product photography, which opened new creative avenues and challenges. This expansion also partly inspired the creation of 4Sure Studios. My vision is to build a team of models, photographers, stylists, and gaffers. Essentially everything needed to run professional spec shoots and create top-tier media for brands and companies. I wanted to rebrand beyond just my name and build a company that stands for creativity, collaboration, and character.
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Editors, Photographers, Models, Stylists, Gaffers, Digi Techs & Set Designers!
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Contact us for projects and media inquiries
tairae@4surestudios.com