Meet Mikeisha Tresevant-Todd of ThirtyThreeFifteen in Inglewood and CulverCity

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikeisha Tresevant-Todd.

Mikeisha, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Those who know me personally know just how important pictures are to me. I grew up with an interesting size family and my Grandmother, the pilot, stores up photo’s more than she does food. Every holiday we would all wind up going through Photo Albums from her shelf to talk about the endless memories from each set. Those stories brought our family together and nurtured me into wanting to create those memories for everyone I meet and everywhere I go. My grade school and college friends would tell you just how much I love Photo’s. Catching a moment and marking it an everlasting memory is my favorite thing to do.

I took my first photography class in HighSchool Junior and Senior Year. It was Film/Analogue Photography course with a part II that included developing the photo’s in the darkroom. Although I have taken an official course before, everything post HighSchool is self-taught.

In college and in my pursuit to a career in Social Work I was the documenter in the group. I had and still have pictures (good and bad) of everybody. It was to the point where my vault became the go to for any event needing to be recalled. I love savoring the moment. Once I graduated I really didn’t get that feeling of relief while crossing the stage that everyone else talked about. If anything I was still confused as to what it is I really wanted to do in life. However, I moved forward to see what this piece of paper could offer me. After a Job in Travel with America Express I finally landed my “dream-job” at California State University, Los Angeles, where I worked in Financial Aid, under lots of stress and then later moved to a new position in the Permanent Records Office. Whilst enjoying the relaxation of working on a college campus, climbing the letter to what I felt my education qualified me for was a lot slower than I imagined. I also got a bit bored. I noticed following someone else’s instructions at any job came really really easy to me and I often found myself trying to do other things to keep busy.

One weekend My brother-in-law brought a camera to a family event and it came so easy for me to operate and then I remembered just how much I loved taking pictures. I had announced to my sister and family that I was going to quit my job and begin my pursuit in Photography. They all looked at me crazy and questioned this impulsive decision I was so eager to make. After all of their questions I decided to take it a bit slower and invest in a New Professional Camera first. In 2015 I finally did it, broke the bank and purchased my first professional DSLR Camera. I couldn’t believe it. After thousands of YouTube Video’s later, I realized I had to get a portfolio together and begin asking all my beautiful friends to let me take their picture. I landed my very first job after my website and business launch in February of 2016. Someone gave me money to take their pictures. WOW. After two years of shooting at a very low base-pay I started to get really burnt out from long days at the university and then having to come home to finish editing photos and trying to do my best to get to clients pictures to them in a timely manner. I often found myself hurrying to finish my task at my day-job to try and finish up client work while on the clock. It became very stressful and then I finally took the plunge September 2017 to quit the University and go FullTime in my career. Life has not been the same since. I purchased another newer camera that October and a few more lenses, which were very expensive and pretty much cleared my savings. I knew I had to take this very serious in order to create the income to survive and invest more into my business.

So here we are about to celebrate two years Full-Time September 18, 2019 and 5 Years in business in 2020 and ThirtyThreeFifteen has not only captured tons of families and brands in Los Angeles but has even went on my first US tour with an artist, and am now an official wedding photographer and even has built a team of 5 more Photographer’s to work with.

Business is always a challenge and getting through dry season is always different, but what I love most is the “wow” in my client’s eyes when they get to see the beauty in themselves the way I see them.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The process of owning a business in general is no smooth road. When you own a business you learn quickly it is about customer service more than it is about the product. The blessing is being able to do what you love and share it with others.

When I quit my job my savings was few, and on an impulse and a prayer I wiped my savings to purchase new equipment. So imagine, I had to blindly work my behind off and had to believe with 150% of me that I was going to succeed as a photographer. I talked to people mainly in my field and that are entrepreneur’s to deter from anyone who may attempt to encourage me to go back to the University or get a “regular job”.

There are days when I booked $1-2,000 worth of sessions in 24hrs and then there are times where I see no more than three sessions in a month. There are also times I’ve taken jobs in the photography field that I may not necessarily want to focus on just to make ends meet. And of-course there are times where I spent money in one seasons when I should have saved for the next season.

Entrepreneurship has taught me so much about discipline and financial planning. I have not quite mastered it, but I am still learning how to make sure the slow months as well as the fast months should keep me afloat.

Secondly, dealing with clientele is no easy road. I worked for American Express Centurion (Black) Card members for over two years and the training required to “know your customer” I have applied effortlessly to my clientele of ThirtyThreeFifteen. When a person books with me, I am sure they are completely comfortable and I can give them what they expect before we confirm with any payment. I have also had clients disappointed and was thankful that I took the proper process in paperwork and documentation to cover my business and clarify with clients. I have also taken a customer service training myself from a few entrepreneur training courses found online. Also having to accept you just may not get it right with every client but always making sure I did my best.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about ThirtyThreeFifteen – what should we know?
I run a full-service Photography and Videography business. I provide photos and video service clients in the Los Angeles area. I book for personal; weddings, family portraits, birthdays, and professional; HeadShots, Branding Campaigns and advertising and Products. When I first started, I told myself I would not decline a job until I tried it and mastered it and then discovered I didn’t want to work in that area of visual arts again.

I am the lead Photographer and I have been moving toward specializing in “Portraits” more. Although I shoot much more than portraits, they are my favorite. I have also ventured back into Film and Analogue Photography. Which keeps my eye trained and helps me sharpen my skills. Most know me for Maternity & Family and Branding Sessions right along with capturing all the candid’s at events.

The thing about my career that really warms my heart is walking into a location (home, office, restaurants, someone’s phone screen) and seeing my work displayed. They love my work so much they had to display it. That makes me most proud. People share what makes them feel good and my goal is for my work to touch millions.

I can remember the first time I was in public at an event someone I did not know walked up to me to ask if I was “ThirtyThreeFifteen”, I humbly said yes and quenched back tears. The reason this moment means so much to me is because I rarely share pictures of myself, my actual face, to be sure to focus on my work more than my personal life. So for someone, anyone to love my work that much to know actually know I am the artist behind it matters so much to me. That moment is why I do what I do. To make people feel.

My Photo sessions are the most comfortable experience you will ever have. I not only am sure to connect with my clients but I ensure they love taking pictures with me just as much as they love the actual photo’s. I also love to capture natural smiles and laughter. I often make jokes or get my clients to talk about anything that leads to an expression of joy. I also do my best to exude confidence in any job even when my nerves are screaming in the inside. Lastly a key thing is communication and patience. I am clear with my clients always so the need for understanding is necessary when it comes to changes. A Photoshoot with ThirtyThreeFifteen leaves you coming back for more, always. We have fun making our memories.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
If my success was a gourmet sand-which I would place it in this order.

SMILING – Top & Bottom Bread
Communication & Consistency – Dressing/Sauces
Quality – Meat/Protein
The Session – Cheese
Extra Photo’s, Delivery, Motive to Book Again – Lettuce, Tomatoes, Pickles & Things

SMILING !!!! Cliche I’m sure, but I do my best to maintain my inner care so I am pure in joy daily to give my best self to my clients and really anyone I encounter. Plus, a smile is irresistibly contagious. It opens doors to a connection with anyone. And then you top it off with “eye-contact” really take the time to pay attention to things. It’s no surprise my career lead me to visual arts as I observe everything and I believe my eyesight is unmatched. It’s my secret superpower.

Consistency and Communication – Consistency in sharing my work, aids in the field of marketing. Keeping my communication with my client, open and clear, leaving no confusion.

Image Credit:
Myself, Mikeisha of ThirtyThreeFifteen Photography

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