Do you remember what the first gift you gave your spouse for their birthday was after getting married? Or vice versa? Hats off to you if you do, but I certainly don’t! Tressa Stevens distinctly remembers. Her husband gave her a camera. It wasn’t a seriously high-tech piece of equipment, and to this day it remains the only surprise gift he has ever given her— something she’s pretty okay with (she’s a lady who knows what she wants).
Without her husband’s encouragement—and his help navigating “the techy side of photography”—she may never have pursued her passion for photography. That newlywed gamble turned out to be a gift that paid off in ways they never imagined. Being a photographer has given Tressa the freedom to be there for her family, her community, and herself in the ways she values the most.
Tressa has captured photos many of us in Utah (and outside our lovely state) have seen. Images we see regularly, if not daily, in our homes. She has photographed for hundreds of families, couples, and businesses, including Lizzy Heaps (The Food Nanny) and Hannah Neeleman (Ballerina Farms).
I am lucky to be counted amongst those surrounded by her work. She took mine and my husband’s engagement photos almost 11 years ago. I cherish those photos! They bring a rush of what being 21 and gushing about getting married felt like. Our engagement photo shoot also happened to be one of her first official shoots. I paid her in Mexican food. In hindsight, I had no clue what a bargain and gift I was getting!
Tressa said she first developed an interest in photography because, “[I] was picky, and just wanted it done right!” She laughs as she recalls her mother’s exhaustion from her relentless critiques of the photos she took of Tressa. That same attention to detail is unmistakable in her work today, where no element is overlooked, and every image is thoughtfully crafted.
She took my engagement photos in the fall of 2015, and once they were posted, people started calling. It happened just that organically. That was the moment that set her journey in motion. Since then, her business has grown step by step, propelled by her tenacious spirit, curiosity, and unwavering dedication to reaching her goals. Her first year, she set a goal to save enough to buy a new laptop. She hit that goal in less than a month. Same with buying a new camera. The real key to her success, though? Tressa put it best, saying, “I take myself seriously. Choose to take yourself seriously, and other people will.”
As a person outside of the world of photography, I had the impression that it’s a somewhat saturated field— I know several people who have dabbled here and there. I’m willing to bet you do as well. I asked Tressa about this and how it affects her ability to break through and stand out in the field. To be honest, her response surprised me! She suggests it’s saturated at the lower level, but not overall.
There are a lot of photographers out there, but many never move out of the amateur arena, not for lack of effort or skill. From her perspective, a key part of moving beyond the amateur phase is calling yourself a photographer instead of merely saying you “take photos” sometimes. This is something she sees a lot. It took her two years to call herself a photographer, which, from her perspective, was relatively quick. She knows people who have been taking photos longer than she has, who still don’t say “I’m a photographer.” Sadly, she observes this hesitation more often among her female peers. She attributes this to a lack of confidence, not necessarily commitment or skill.
For Tressa, the greatest challenge isn’t a lack of confidence or opportunity, but balancing a career she loves with family. She found the solution in pricing her work appropriately. “Charging more means better clients and respect for my product. When I finally upped my prices and set boundaries, I became more successful.” By valuing herself and her work, she didn’t push others away, but instead attracted “intentional, curated clients,” making work-life balance attainable.
Beyond doing photo shoots, she also developed an online course, Enlightened Lense Academy, geared towards helping women build their own photography business. For the time being, she’s taking a break from the course, allowing her more time to focus on other goals. In her next phase as a photographer, she would like to spend more time as a one-on-one mentor.
My takeaway from a friend, professional, and local female business owner I respect is this—call yourself what you are. Don’t be embarrassed or timid. You don’t need to wait for someone else to validate what you want for yourself. Take yourself seriously, and others will follow that lead. Tressa said it best, “Value yourself, time, and craft…Put in the work to chase what you want, and you will best serve yourself, family, and community.”
