We had the good fortune of connecting with Trés Cox and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Trés, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I consider my personal and professional relationships to be some of the most valuable influences on my career. My friends, family, and mentors have given me such a unique mix of encouragement and wisdom that has shaped my character, work ethic, and outlook on life. My life is the embodiment of the saying “it takes a village” because I would not be where I am today without everyone who has supported me along the way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My creative journey started as a way to highlight the talented creatives in my community. I’ve been blessed to make a lot of friends who are musicians, dancers, actors, etc., and I wanted to create an outlet that would put a spotlight on their unique talents, perspectives, and personalities. This began as a series known as ‘SEEN.’ (@seenbytres on Instagram) and then progressed into a platform where I would share more work such as live music videos, short films, and portrait sessions. I would consider the ‘SEEN.’ series as the point where I began taking photography and videography past the point of being a hobby and started taking them more seriously as a viable career path. Since then, I’ve started to share more of my work on my personal account (@trescox) and my portfolio website (seenbytres.com). However, I’ve decided to leave the SEEN. series up on the original account as a way to document the beginnings of my creative journey.

The growth of my career has been impacted by relationships formed by collaborating with others in my community, volunteering in creative ministry at church, and pursuing my education at Abilene Christian University, where I completed my Bachelor’s in Marketing & Management as well as a Master’s of Business Administration. My time at ACU allowed me to expand my horizons as a camp counselor, student-run business leader, 4-year rugby player, short-film director, and it also led me to a position as a marketer at Pharos Resources, an innovative tech company within the higher education sector.
All of these experiences gave me the opportunity to develop as a teammate, leader, and storyteller who understands how to bridge the gap between corporate and creative worlds. The guidance of my mentors and support from my peers has helped me learn to be a better listener and communicator, which I consider to be two of the most important traits of creatives who value collaboration. I believe that every major opportunity that has entered my life can be traced back to a person who was willing to help me get connected and plugged into a new branch of community. Such opportunities have included working with director Nate Corrona aka Dust (@dustbrand_films on IG), mentorship from Randy Brewer (founder of Revolution Pictures), and capturing performances by Lecrae, Madison Ryann Ward, Kings Kaleidoscope, and a host of other inspirational talents. The latest adventure to come my way has been traveling and capturing content for the ‘It’s Time Tour’ (@its.time.official on IG) featuring Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tamela Mann, Natalie Grant, TAYA, Naomi Raine, and Katie Torwalt.

My best advice for anyone looking to advance in their field is to continuously pursue healthy, encouraging community, and find new ways to expand and refine their skills.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend who was coming to DFW for a quick visit, I would take them out on a tour of my favorite coffee spots in Dallas (Wayward, Merit, and Triumph’s), check out the incredible pieces at the Dallas Museum of Art, head over to Babe’s for some delicious chicken fried steak, then cap it all off by dancing the night away to vintage classics at Studio Eighty in downtown Fort Worth.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This shoutout is dedicated to Mom & Dad. They have taught me to stay hopeful amidst hardship, joyful amidst failure, and humble amidst success. Their dedication to faith, service, and ministry has given me a clear example of what it means to sacrifice for the sake of others and to prioritize community above personal gain.

Website: seenbytres.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/trescox

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trescox

Image Credits
Personal Photo by Deanna Lynn Tuttle

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