SPEAKER
PHOTOGRAPHER
Hello, I’m Teresa
I help people see and be seen
In a human connection economy I create images with impact and teach others how to see.
15+ Years of Photography and Speaking Experience
A master of making everyone look and feel amazing – Teresa Porter is a professional portrait photographer and keynote speaker from Cary, NC. Known for putting everyone at ease, and never meeting a stranger – her portrait photography studio in Downtown Cary, NC is aptly named My Friend Teresa Studios. She can deliver a message like only a friend can too: honest, funny, and with all the important details. She has been featured on Huffington Post, delivered a TedX talk, and worked with various families, organizations and associations throughout the United States to create high-end portraiture.
Experience
My Friend Teresa Studios / 2010 to Present
Portrait photography studio in Downtown Cary, NC serving high school senior portraits, family portraits, and creating personal branding images.
Teresa Porter Photography / 2022 to Present
Modern corporate headshot and personal branding photography studio in Downtown Cary, NC serving small to medium businesses and individuals.
Business Mastery with Teresa Porter / 2019 to 2025
Photography business education for women in the photography industry to learn best practices in pricing, marketing, and customer service. Meets monthly online and in-person.
Awards and Recognitions
Professional Photographers of North Carolina: Fellow of Photography (2022)
“Breakthrough” 1st Place Women: PPNC Print Competition (2021)
Cary Magazine “Mover and Shaker” (2019)
TEDx Speaker – 250k+ views “Life After Near Death” (2017)
Associations
Professional Photographers of America
Professional Photographers of North Carolina
National Speakers Assocation | NSA: Carolinas
Cary Chamber of Commerce
Heart of Cary Association
PERSONAL PASSIONS
Stand Up Comedy
One of the hardest things I’ve ever done and one of the best! I’m always developing and testing new material and you can catch me at Open Mic’s throughout the Triangle. This is just a hobby but it’s growing!
Roller Derby
I am *not* the one in roller skates but my daughter, CeCe spends several days a week at the rink with the Raleigh Junior Rollers and it’s totally become a family pastime. We love cheering The Carolina Roller Derby.
Vivian Maier
I could talk for hours about the nanny from Chicago who turned out to be one of the greatest photographers of the century. I produce and host a podcast about this once in a lifetime legacy as a passion project.
Musicals
Bring on the Broadway! Hyper obsessions have included Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Legally Blonde. Dreamgirls. Chicago. Phantom of the Opera. Hamilton. Rent. Wicked. ((pause, dramatic exhale)) … Funny Girl.
Featured Talks
Red Carpet Confidence: Posing Secrets of the Pros
Learn the insider techniques and strategies used by professional photographers to help anyone pose with confidence. A hands-on class for marketers, content-creators, creatives, and entrepreneurs who use their phones to create.
The Before and After Effect: Using Transformation in Luxury Marketing
Discover how transformative before-and-after content can elevate your luxury brand, creating compelling visual stories that captivate and convert high-end clients. A hands-on class for luxury services, client-focused businesses, and experience-based industries.
One Shot: Excelling Together in Critical Moments
Master the art of guiding others to perform their best under pressure, ensuring collective success when it matters most by leveraging techniques from high-stakes photography. A talk for diverse audiences.
Awe and Light: Amplify Your Influence Through Human Connection
Explore the power of seeing and accepting others in their best light, using principles from photography to build deeper, more influential human connections in your professional life. A talk for diverse audiences.
Teresa Porter
Teresa Porter is a portrait photographer and speaker in Cary, NC. She runs her senior portrait and family portrait photography business, My Friend Teresa Studios and her Corporate Branding and headshot photography studio Teresa Porter Photography also in Cary, NC.