Every Monday we bring you a featured blogger who inspires us. This week we’re excited to share with you Tessa Barton, a talented stylist and photographer! Whenever we’re looking for a little inspiration, we can always count on Tessa’s Instagram feed to get us going and ready to plan our next adventure! As Tessa continues to ‘live, create and repeat’ we know more amazing and beautiful things will come from her! Read more about Tessa here.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
Well hello there, my name is Tessa. I am from an art obsessed, creative family. For as long as I can remember I have been painting, writing music, or turning anything I could get my hands onto into art! I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. This place is literally as beautiful as it gets, from roaming mountains, diving into lakes, skiing the freshest snow, and road tripping every other weekend, I am a lover of the outdoors.
I graduated school with a BFA “ Fine arts” degree a few years ago and have since committed my life to doing what I love. I am from a big old family of 7, we do everything together from playing in each others bands to starting new companies, it’s pretty amazing. I feel beyond lucky to call some of the most talented and creative people I know, my family.
What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
Free Spirited, Believer, and creator.
What Profession other than yours would you love to attempt?
That is a hard question, because if I could think of something else I wanted to do, I would probably be trying to do it! But on an extreme level, I would love to do something in the medical field. I think it’s incredible what doctors can do and how many lives they can change from a single person to generations ahead. It something so far out of my element it intrigues me in so many ways. I would love to be able to study the mind and the way it works, discover a new cure or invent a new procedure.
What is your favorite quote?
“Do stuff. be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. stay eager.”
– Susan Sontag
What inspired your blog?
I started a blog because I began taking images, writing music, and making my own clothing and realized I wanted a home for all of it. I love to view things as a collection, I think often that is how things are meant to be seen. I wanted a place, really, for me to create and to live. I didn’t really know what I was going to blog about when I first began, in fact I think it is still an evolution, but that is what is amazing, you get to watch yourself grow and change. I think there are so many interesting people in the world and how cool that you can find a blog and get to know a piece of someone’s life and share a moment with them when they live thousands of miles away. That is truly incredible and inspiring to me.
What is your favorite social media platform and why?
I have a love for Instagram. Many people hate the fact that it is the glorified part of everyone’s life, but I think that is what makes it so amazing. I have made countless new friends through Instagram who have now become life long friends. I get to scroll through a feed every day of inspiring images, beautiful places, and funny musings.
I think for a younger generation it is amazing. If I had Instagram when I was in Middle and High school, I probably would have had a much better fashion sense. It allows you to see all around the world, every day, and motives everyone to become a dreamer. I think Instagram sparks the explorer in everyone’s mind and introduces them to the world in so many different eyes.
Where do you find inspiration for blog posts?
Blogging can be hard, because you can easily get caught up in worrying what people want to read or want to see. But I think the best way to blog, is to be authentic and try as hard as one can to let go of “what people think.” My favorite blogs are the ones where you can hear and see someone’s true voice. It doesn’t feel as if they are trying to make me like something, you can just tell they do. I honestly don’t have any rhyme or reason to my blog, I view it more like a journal. I get to document my life, my inspirations, and the things I love for me, and how cool if anyone else wants to read about it!
What do you think it is about your blog that keeps people coming back for more?
Through and through, I am a photographer, or better said, a lover of imagery. The sole reason I ever picked up a camera was because I loved clothes and the way the moved, the way they made people feel, and I wanted to show how I saw it.
So I think my photos would definitely be my strong point in the blog world. But if there is one thing I think of often when blogging that is, If you want to be heard, you better make some noise!
How does a brand get your attention for a feature?
I get countless emails a day! Instagram is a major vessel for me of contacting and connecting with brands. I think it’s important to follow the accounts and support the brands you love. It’s easy to say yes to everyone, but you have to also remember that people like to see the real you! I try and make sure everyone I collaborate with matches my brand, and that we share common interests and visions.
What do you love most about blogging?
I love the fact that blogging allows you to watch yourself grow. It’s amazing to go back and see how your style has grown, your writing has changed, what trends have stuck around. I think honestly you can learn so much about yourself through blogging.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years, wow that is a intimidating question. If there is one rule I live by, it’s to go with the flow. I think life will give back to you what you put into it. I see myself on an ever-growing and changing journey. In ten years I hope my passport is full of stamps from traveling all over the world, that I have made a large footprint on this earth and that I am continuing to create and grow and explore new mediums. I hope that I don’t have roots in one place, but many. The purpose of life is live it, as simple as that may sound I don’t think many people do.
In your opinion, what separates a great blog from an unsuccessful blog?
I think all blogs are great, someone is allowing others to peek into a window of their life.
But the truly outstanding blogs are those that are authentic, that is the only thing that will ever last. Blogging is harder than I think most people realize, it takes a lot of time, confidence and energy. The best blogs are through and through true to one thing, who that person is. Giving a reader something to believe in or showing them the world in your eyes will make the difference. Some blogs have a lot to read, some have a lot to see, just be consistent and do what you do best.
