My name is Tessa Voccola and I am a creative industry professional specializing in photography, graphic design, and internal content creation. Here is my roadmap to a full-time career in the creative world.

Tessa is a creative industry professional who has worked with and created content for some of the biggest brands in the country. Her work has taken her all over the world.

Tessa is a creative industry professional who has worked with and created content for some of the biggest brands in the country. Her work has taken her all over the world.

  • I grew up taking photos and dabbling in web design.

  • Attended Lee University (studio major) - I didn't expect to use my major at all.

  • Immediately looked for opportunities to take photos.

  • Got connected with the university's biannual magazine (spent one semester volunteering and showing up to literally anything and everything, had a job the next semester + the next four years)

  • Was asked to join Media Services (handles all social content for the university) as a photographer.

  • Spent two years doing anything and everything from being a grip on random sets, shooting events, making graphics, running socials etc. I wanted to learn and I wanted to see things succeed. That drive to learn and the trust I built with my boss and team brought me from a photographer to being in charge of running all social content at biggest event in the university's history.

  • Met my current boss through the friendships I made with other people on the MS team and with my boss at Lee.

  • Interned at RVRB. I mostly did organizational work and did not touch creative work for most of the internship. When the internship ended I continued to show up and essentially forced my way into a job (apparently this approach works for me 😉). Went from intern to part-time. Graduated and went full-time. I am now in charge of all things photo, graphic, and internal content creation.

ADVICE FOR THE STUDENTS:

  • Show up for more than what you "want" to do.

  • Get used to doing a lot of stuff you don't want to do in order to get to what you love to do.

  • People remember and value dependability more than talent.

  • Put yourself in positions to learn new things (either through shadowing or volunteering as the entry level person just to get yourself in the room).

  • The people you build trust with are the people that are going to give you opportunities in the future so start making friends and helping people out more than you expect to be helped.