Hi, I’m Tess!
I’m a 25-year-old photographer based in Ottawa, IL, with a deep passion for creating. A few things to know about me: I have two girl dogs, (Nugget & Frankie), who are my babies, I’m a super family-oriented queen, and I believe in the magic of a good car concert — windows down, volume up, full performance for whoever’s lucky enough to catch it at a red light.
Photography entered the chat at 13 years old when Tumblr was all the rage. My friend had a canon camera that piqued my interest. So, she got dressed, we went for a walk, and I took photos of her. That was the day I felt a new spark I had only ever had with dance. It was the start of a wild, beautiful, learning experience.
I started out at 15, dressing up my friends and chasing whatever creative idea popped into my head — most of high school was spent counting down to the weekend so I could shoot. By 18, I photographed my first wedding, and from there, the ball never stopped rolling. What started as something fun turned into something real, and I was honestly blown away by how many people trusted me so early on. That trust gave me the confidence to keep going — and I’ve never looked back.
Before photography, I was a dancer for about 15 years, and I’ve always felt that magnetic pull toward anything artistic. Whether it’s dance, graphic design, music, videography — if it’s art, it has my full attention. Photography is where all those passions get to meet and come to life.
But why photography?
The reason I shoot is because I genuinely love working with the right people — the ones who get me, and who I get right back. No one’s booking with me blindly. You’ll know who I am, how I work, and what my editing style looks like before we even chat. I try to make sure my personality comes through clearly — whether it’s through my Instagram stories (chaotic in the best way, lol) or the way I write and share online. If we vibe, we vibe, if the trust is trust-ing — and that’s when the best photos happen.
Whether you’re a couple in love, a graduating senior, a business needing branding, or a family whose kids think standing still is a form of torture — I’ve got you. I’m equal parts calm professional and friendly chaos coordinator, adapting to the vibe in front of the lens. With couples and seniors, I’m the adult you can trust with your story & maybe a few curse words (all in good fun). With families, I’m on the floor making silly faces, fully committed to making a fool of myself alllll for the sake of the pics.
My approach? Simple. Come as you are. There’s no pressure to look or act a certain way. I believe there’s beauty in every person and every perfectly imperfect moment. You don’t have to be a model — you just have to be yourself.
Photography became the way I get to hold those moments still, not just for myself, but for others. These are the things we think we’ll remember forever… but life moves fast. I’m here to slow it down, even just for a second, and give you something to hold onto - exactly how it is.