Tressavent Photography

Premier Newborn, Family & Graduating Senior Photographer in Dallas, TX

IT’S BEEN REAL | 365 Grateful Heart Project | February

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Oh February, it’s been real, real fun.  There were adventures, trying new things, crazy weather, turning a year older, lots of love and laughs, and visits from family and friends.  I’m truly grateful for everything I got to experience these last 28 days.  You can see some of my favorite moments below and more @tressavent.

Then be sure and visit Ute’s monthly wrap-up at Fotoart Photography and view Shaz’s project @mspurevanilla.  We’ve also had a number of friends join us on Instagram that you don’t want to miss… @iheartkingston,  @mikehowell_jr,  @cosibella,  @jbergerphoto,  @krishnaneale and many, many more!  Just check out the tag #365GratefulHeart to see all of the wonderful images & grateful moments.   [Read more…]

THIS IS ME | 365 Grateful Heart Project | January

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I can’t believe that January has come and gone already.  Such an awesome month and a great start to 2015!  As you may know, I’m doing a 365 Grateful Project along side some talented friends, where we post a photo-a-day on Instagram of what we are grateful for.  It’s about celebrating the moments in your life that make you happy, reflection and gratitude.  You can read more about it here.

This personal project has been a wonderful experience and is something that I’m proud of.  I love that it’s helping me document more of my own life and focusing on the positive in each day.  I took the above self portrait as part of the project and it’s far from perfect, but so am I.  I’m just doing the best that I can and I feel really good about that.  This is me and the things in my life that truly make me happy.  You can see a few of my favorite moments from January below and more @tressavent. Then be sure and visit Ute’s monthly wrap-up at Fotoart Photography and view Shaz’s project @mspurevanilla.  We’ve also had a number of friends join us on Instagram that you don’t want to miss… just check out the tag #365GratefulHeart.  So many beautiful images!

And if you would like to join us {it’s never too late!} then we invite you to tag your images using#365GratefulHeart so we can follow along.

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tressavent photography | dallas, tx lifestyle & philanthropic photographer | tressa thomas| love capture give® | book a session

365 GRATEFUL HEART PROJECT | tressavent photography

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“Taking one photo every day of something I was grateful for really re-programmed my brain. Seeing and celebrating the good in my life affected not only the way I felt spiritually and physically but it improved my relationships with others too.” -Hailey Bartholomew

How great is that?!  After reading about Hailey’s 365 Grateful Project, I knew right away it was something that I wanted to do.  So what better way to kick off 2015 then with a new personal photo project!  And the best part is, I’m getting to do it alongside some super talented friends, Ute & Shaz.  YOU can join us too!!!  We will be posting a photo-a-day on Instagram of what we are grateful for… it’s about reflection and gratitude.  You can find us at @tressavent, @foto_ute & @mspurevanilla.  I’m going to be using both my D750 & iPhone {whatever is handy that day} and maybe even mixing in a little bit of iPhone video using the 1 Second Everyday app.  The possibilities are endless on how you want to participate!  There are no rules, no daily word prompts or features… just celebrating the moments in your life that make you happy.  You can learn more about the inspiration behind this project at www.365grateful.com.  If you would like to join us {which I really hope you will!!!} and discover more about the power of gratitude in your own life, then we invite you to tag your images using #365GratefulHeart so we can follow along.  Cheers to a happy 2015… I hope to see you on IG!  [Read more…]

FROZEN BIRTHDAY PARTY | dallas, tx lifestyle photography

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It seems like just yesterday she was calling me Aunt “Chessa” and now, as plain as day, I’m Aunt Tressa.  It feels like it happened overnight and now sweet Maddie has turned the BIG six.  I would be lying if I told you I don’t miss hearing “Chessa”, but it’s also really awesome getting to watch her grow into such a unique and wonderful little girl.  I love everything about her and that I get to help document these special moments that go by oh so fast.  If you want to take a trip down memory lane with me, then be sure and check out the images from her fourth and fifth Birthday parties.  It’s so much fun to look back!  This year’s party was allllllll about Frozen and there was even a special guest appearance from Queen Elsa herself.  The looks on their faces when she arrived to the party are *priceless*!  It was such a fun day with Maddie and her friends… aren’t they the cutest?! [Read more…]

REAL MESS | dallas, tx lifestyle photography

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I’m so excited to be participating in a Blog Circle with a very talented group of photographer friends called Keepin’ It Real.  Every month we have a different theme where we document, post pictures and then link to one another at the end of each blog.  You’ll get to see glimpses of some of my personal life and also see how other photographers are interpreting each prompt.  How fun is that?!  This is my first round, but I’m looking forward to making this an ongoing series and pushing myself to document and share more of my own life with you guys.  😉  Thanks for following along and don’t forget to follow the blog circle to see everyone’s work.  Just click on the link at the end of my post and enjoy!  This month’s theme is Real Mess…

Meet Sydney.  Also known as Syd Vicious, Syd Bear or sometimes just Syd.  She is the sweetest, most lovable shih tzu and she is all ours.   My hubby and I got her eight years ago when we got engaged and oh how we love her so.  Although completely adorable, she can also be quite the hot mess with her fluffy hair and the fact that she can’t drink water without putting her whole face in the water bowl.  So bath time it was… where she remained clean for all of 30 minutes… maybe.   [Read more…]

NEW YORK CITY | dallas, tx lifestyle photographer

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Earlier this month I got to go on the most amazing trip to New York City with the most amazing group of photographers for the Pinkle Toes Workshop Reunion.  It was a whirlwind of non-stop fun around the big city that was full of laughing, walking, eating, more walking and most of all lots and lots of picture taking.  But my favorite part of it all was all of the new friendships made… what a wonderful group of talented ladies with big, kind hearts.  I will always treasure the memories we made that weekend and look forward to keeping in touch with everyone.  Be sure and scroll all the way to the end of this post and follow the blog circle to see how everyone else saw the city through their lens.  And if you’re on Instagram, you can see some of my iPhone images here and search #pinkletoesnyc to see more snaps from our adventures.  [Read more…]

SAVING THROWBACK THURSDAY | dallas, tx lifestyle photographer

Saving Throwback Thursday by www.tressavent.com

As much as I love that adorable camel running around saying HUMP DAYYYYYY, Throwback Thursday is where it’s at.  I always look forward to seeing everyone’s posts and getting to take a trip down memory lane.  But it has also really got me thinking… what if none of those photos had ever been printed?  There is no denying that we now live in a digital world.  Convenient? Yes, but reliable?  No.  Hard drives fail, phones get washed in the laundry and sometimes things just disappear… right into thin air {ahem, aka, user error}.  It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, that printing photos from last weekend’s err, last year’s {    fill in the blank    } seems like the least of your worries.  Hey, I get it.  I’m totally guilty of this too.  So in an effort to stay on top of it all, I’m going to start using Thursdays as a day to take a little bit of time to look through my files {computer/instagram/phone/etc}, pick out my favorites and print my images.  I challenge *you* to do the same and together we can save Throwback Thursday from becoming extinct.  I know, I know… so dramatic!  But seriously, what good are all those photos 10 or 20 years from now if you never print them?  Think about it… and then make it happen.  Here are some of my favorite resources for printing and backing up photos:

  • Mpix:  I love Mpix! Their product line is extensive and their quality is outstanding.
  • Artifact Uprising:  Custom photo goods made easy… their products are ahhhh-mazing and will totally have you swooning.
  • Groovebook:  For only $2.99 a month, including shipping and processing, Groovebook will send you a photo book each month.  The photos are perforated for easy removal so you can share with your friends and family… so COOL!
  • Printsagram:  A great way to print your Instagram photos with a unique selection of products.
  • CrashPlan:  If you’re not backing up your computer and hard drive(s) online, this is a wonderful way to help protect all of your important files.
  • Attn Past Clients:  Have you printed your images from your last session with me?  If not, please drop me a line.  I’m proud to be offering a new collection of the most unique and highest quality products in the industry, from custom made albums to display options which complement any home décor. Let me help take the guesswork out of displaying your beautiful images.

And what would a TBT blog post be without some of my own childhood throwbacks… 😉   [Read more…]

OBON REMEMBERING OUR ANCESTORS | dallas, tx family lifestyle photographer

Family visiting from Japan for Obon

I recently had the pleasure of meeting some of my husband’s family from Japan and experiencing a special part of their Okinawan culture , an Obon celebration.  It was a really wonderful visit… something that we will never forget.  Obon is one of the most important Japanese Buddhist customs.  It’s believed that ancestors’ spirits come back to their homes to be reunited with their family.  For this reason, it is an important family gathering time, and many people return to their hometowns so they can honor and pray for the spirits.  They will visit and clean their ancestors’ graves, place a variety of offerings such as vegetables, fruits and other items they enjoyed, and the sprits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household alters.  It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years.   [Read more…]

I LOVE HER TO INFINITY & BEYOND | dallas, tx portrait photographer

This is my beautiful Mother and I love her to infinity and beyond {a very popular saying in our family}!  She is everything a Mom is supposed to be and more.  She is perfect and I’m so lucky to have her in my life.  On a recent visit, I took these portraits so she could use them for her Facebook {everyone deserves a great profile photo} and for her Pampered Chef  business {cooking is one of her greatest passions and you know it when you taste her food… she is the BEST cook EVER}.  But even more than that, I will cherish these photos {and the great memories we made while taking them} forever.  It was such a fun afternoon and you would never know by looking at them how much pain she was in from a recent knee replacement surgery.  Nothing is worse than seeing someone you love so much in pain and not being able to make it better.  I’m so proud of her and amazed at her wonderful progress since the surgery.  She is the strongest person I know and I cherish every second I have with her.  I thought with Mother’s Day quickly approaching it was only appropriate that I share some of these images on my website.  I know it’s a little early, but Happy Mother’s Day Mom!  Thanks for being YOU and for being so incredibly awesome… I love YOU to infinity and beyond!!!

Also, I wanted to take a minute to thank all of our family and friends who took time out of their busy schedules to make personal visits to the house, for delivering tasty meals and for all the sweet get well cards and beautiful flowers and plants.  Every. single. card. made its way onto my parent’s living room mantel and was a constant reminder of encouragement and how many people were cheering her on.  Thank you, thank you for loving my Mom as much as we do!!!  You may never know how much your kindness meant to all of us.  Hugs and love to YOU!

 tressavent photography | dallas, tx lifestyle & philanthropic photographer | tressa thomas| love capture give™ | book to give

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