The small business landscape in downtown Houston recently got another boost, but this time a piece of history got a facelift to boot.
Raymondville resident Tessa Dixon opened Joyful Expressions Photography in mid-October on Grand Avenue. But unlike other downtown businesses, this one occupies a second-floor space rather than a ground-level storefront.
Located just south of Pine Street above Elmore’s Men’s and Boys’ Wear and Memories and Dreams, the huge space and its expansive hardwood flooring was used years ago (among other things) as a practice venue for community school cheerleaders.
Dixon, who was home-schooled while living in Beulah, has been working professionally in photography for about two years. She has honed her skills by taking online classes taught by other accomplished photographers, but photography has always been her goal.
“When I was young, I wrote a list of things to do when I grew up and photography was on it,” Dixon said. “And I’ve always been the one in my family who always had her camera and loved taking pictures. But I put hours, days and months into learning before I said, ‘OK, this is what I’m going to do and I’m ready.’”
Dixon said she really doesn’t have a “specialty” in photography, but has a few favorite situations.
“I love working with kids,” she said. “I’ve done some group sessions, but I love working one-on-one. But I try to be unique by offering gorgeous photos, but sticking to a price point anybody can afford. I’m trying to find a way that anyone who wants photos can have them.”
Joyful Expressions’ location came about through Dixon’s friendship with Memories and Dreams owner Dawn Kaufman, who rents both her store’s space and the upstairs space from their owner.
“She said, ‘Why don’t you check this space out?’” Dixon said. “I thought it was gorgeous and I saw potential right away.”
Dixon and some friends spent a couple of weeks cleaning up the main room and a couple of smaller ones adjacent to it, and she had herself a studio, waiting room and a restroom and closet.
The size of the main room offered Dixon the opportunity to set up several areas with differing props.
“It gives me options,” she said. “People come up and say, ‘I wasn’t expecting options.’ But I like being able to set up different looks and change things around. I’m already starting to consider spring and Easter, and buy props for that. I like working with seasonal props, but I also have just random kinds of props.”
Dixon chose the name for her business based on her approach to life.
“I feel like if you’re having a good day and you let your light shine, then you have joyful expressions all the time,” she said. “It’s not just a birthday, a wedding or an anniversary, it’s just life. I just love life and I love capturing it – all the time.”
In addition to in-studio sessions, Dixon continues to offer on-location photography. Her hours in the studio are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, or by other arrangement (including weekends).
“As well as my affordability, I make sessions fun,” Dixon said. “I offer great prints and I include CDs with every session at no extra charge. I also load photos online so they’re viewable before you can meet with me and get your CD – and they’re password protected so if they’re a surprise, they’ll stay that way. I work around peoples’ schedules and what works for them.
“And if you want me to try something, if it’s reasonable, we’ll try it.”
To find out more about Joyful Expressions, call Tessa Dixon at 417-217-1443, email her at tessa@jephotos.us, or log onto Joyful Expressions’ website at www.jephotos.us.