"I wanted to create art. My own style I wanted that to permeate my subjects," says Tate Tullier, one of the Deaf community's most prominent professional photographers. A graduate of Gallaudet, Tullier's dream started at 12, taking pictures of friends and landscapes in his native Louisiana with a camera borrowed from his mom.

After Gallaudet, Tullier attempted to penetrate the New York photography business, moving to New York City after college, and pounding the City's gritty streets for work, along with a sea of other photographers. "When I moved there, I was sure I'd be world famous. But it's so competitive and frequently, poor perceptions messed up the opportunities. I'd always let them know ahead of time that I was deaf, and arrive at jobs early. I'd show my work, which they liked, but was often be sent away because they'd say 'you can't use the phone.' It was so frustrating!"

Eventually, Tullier returned home, realizing that the South offered him many opportunities, and that the Internet would provide the exposure he needed to get his work in front of the right people. "Louisiana offers many great spots to shoot, and I found that with the wedding photography, I was able to travel many other places as well, all over the world. As I completed more and more assignments, my confidence grew." In the years since, Tullier's business has grown to support him, through a combination of his online marketing "word of hand" marketing in the deaf community. "If we stop dreaming, we stop living," says Tullier, encouraging everyone to push forward and not give up on what they're dreaming for.