An Unexpected Photo Op

Elise Laird
KTSW News

There is a wide variety of art that exists in the San Marcos realm, one of the mediums is the use of photography.  Communication design and photography junior, Preslie Cox, is one of the individuals that chose to expand the art of photography through portraiture. Cox started shooting about four years ago.

Cox did not know what she wanted to do when she first got her camera, but it didn’t take long for her to figure it out.

 

“My sister was a cheerleader at one of the local high schools we have back where I am from, so I started shooting out there, and her boyfriend was a baseball player so I started taking pictures of him.”
-Preslie Cox

 

After Cox developed her pictures and showed her friends and family what she was capable of, other people around the town began to ask if she would do environmental portrait shots of them, or even just take some family photos.

 

“Once the parents started seeing my pictures online there became a demand for prints and digital copies so I figured I’d do something with it business wise.”
-Preslie Cox

 

Cox utilized social media such as, Facebook, to get her photos out there, shortly after, people started to ask her to do their Senior pictures for them.

 

“Now four years in, I would have never imagined being this busy.”
– Preslie Cox

 

It has been very exciting for young photographer Cox, but she is constantly overcoming the public’s critique of her work due to the fact that Cox is only 22. Cox has to remain very flexible to meet her client’s needs; she travels every week to and from Houston, San Marcos, and Baytown, her home town.

Aside from the learning curves that come with Cox’s Photography business, she really enjoys her job and those clients that have helped her exceed. Some of her favorite portraits she does are of high school seniors and children.

 

“It is more stylish and there is so many more options prop wise, I feel like I bring my entire closet for children’s portraits.”
-Preslie Cox

One of Cox’s clients that has watched and helped her photography grow is her best friend, art and mass communications senior, Marisa Broom.

 

“I am really proud of her as her best friend; all her pictures are really really good.”
-Marisa Broom

 

Cox has done a few different shots for Broom and her family as well.

 

“She took pictures of my dog in Sewell Park here at Texas State, and everybody loved them!”
– Marisa Broom

 

When Broom and her family wanted to take a family portrait, they weren’t even sure of how too. They were nervous about the unpredictability of taking the photos outside and not to mention their three dogs that they wanted in the photo as well.

 

“We didn’t know exactly how everything would turn out, we were worried about our hair and how to stand, but Preslie came in and positioned us and made us look really good.”
– Marisa Broom

In fact, Cox did so well that Broom’s mother couldn’t help but order more than a few copies of the family portraits.

 

“My mom ordered a ton of pictures, I didn’t expect her to order that many, but she absolutely loved them.”
– Marisa Broom

 

Broom is proud of Cox’s success and Cox appears to be very thankful that Broom and her family have been so supportive of her career. Cox is looking to expand her business in San Marcos and better her unique studio style; she currently does not use any designated studio space.

 

“I really like the nontraditional aspect instead of always going to a studio.”
-Preslie Cox 

 

Cox is excited to expand her business and hopes to one day start shooting weddings.

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