Today we’d like to introduce you to Tessie West.
Hi Tessie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was 18 years old (ten years ago!), and I was a college student getting ready to apply for nursing school. I was always a lover of all things that had to do with ART growing up. Painting, drawing, performing arts, etc. I was always a creative at heart growing up, and I believe I got that from my grandmother. She always had nice camera gear laying around because photography was a fun hobby for her. I picked up her camera one day to take photos of my niece for her birthday, and I fell in love immediately. It became a little side hustle to help me get by while I was on college, but it quickly exploded and I found myself faced with the decision of dropping out of college to pursue this new passion or to stay on the course that seemed like the “responsible” thing to do. Obviously, I followed my heart and never looked back. Today I am still documenting and preserving precious moments for others and have no plans to stop anytime soon!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not always been a smooth or easy journey. But nothing worth it is! I was self-taught, so there was a lot of learning along the way type of thing! Lol. I have learned many lessons in time management, sticking to boundaries I set for myself, and valuing myself as an entrepreneur and artist!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a lifestyle photographer. I specialized in weddings full time for eight years, but for the last two years, I have decided to take a big step back from weddings and I only take on a handful of large weddings a year now. I am still taking on unlimited elopements and smaller intimate weddings though. At the moment, I am focusing a lot more on family and motherhood type sessions as well. I offer family, maternity, motherhood, lifestyle newborns, in home sessions, and small weddings and elopements at the moment!
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My grandmother giving me a film camera for every trip and vacation we went on so I could document it through my perspective. I still love looking through those images today!
Contact Info:
- Email: tessiewestphoto@gmail.com
- Website: tessiewest.com
- Instagram: tessiewestphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tessiewestphotography
Image Credits:
Tessie West Photography
